Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
14 June 2016
Release: immediate
The people of the Northern Cape need to ask themselves if they want thugs to represent them at local government level or if they want change.
The DA has learned that number six on the ANC’s Sol Plaatje Public Representative (PR) list is a convicted criminal. He was previously found guilty of robbery with a firearm, a Schedule 6 offence. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail and was released on parole after serving 7 years.
This candidate also encouraged ANC supporters to fight DA members while canvassing in Galeshewe in 2014, prior to the general elections. He even assaulted a female DA activist and we opened a case against him but nothing came of it.
The candidate in question is likely to be elected to the Sol Plaatje municipal council. This is in spite of the law dictating that a person is disqualified from serving as a councillor if he was convicted for an offence and imprisoned for a period of more than twelve months without an option of a fine.
The DA is not surprised that the ANC in the Northern Cape is endorsing convicted criminals as candidates, given the out of control culture of lawlessness within the ruling party’s ranks.
But what more can one expect from a party that retains a man like Jacob Zuma at its national helm and a party that for years clung onto John Block (who has since been found guilty of fraud, corruption and money laundering) as provincial chairperson of the ANC?
In local governments across the Northern Cape and the country, the ANC has placed the abuse of power for personal gain above the betterment of the lives of all people. For as long as the ANC remains in power, state funds will continue to be looted by thugs, thieves and pilferers, who steal resources, services and opportunities from the poor and call themselves politicians.
To the contrary, DA-run governments are committed to transparent and accountable governance and have zero tolerance for corruption. The DA is committed to ridding the cities and towns we govern of fraud and the mismanagement of public money to ensure that public money is spent fairly and transparently. We are committed to honest government, where the needs of the people are put first.
Come the 3rd of August, we encourage citizens everywhere to vote for change that will move South Africa forward again. Otherwise, state resources will continue to be plundered by cadres and crooks until there is absolutely nothing left of service delivery.
Media Enquiries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
Related posts