Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is appealing to the failing ANC to call an internal ceasefire to save Sol Plaatje municipality.
This comes after the failing ANC today moved forward with the expulsion of seven of its ward councillors and two proportional representative councillors, by taking their names to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for removal from the party’s list. The affected councillors previously voted with the DA to oust controversial Mayor, Mangaliso Matika. Similarly, the DA voted in support of the same councillors to elect the Pula Thabane, the “people’s choice”, as Mayor.
The move is sure to aggravate the debilitating factional battle within the failing ANC, which is increasingly spilling over into service delivery.
If the expelled councillors pursue legal action, municipal business will continue to stagnate until the matter is settled in court. And if there is no court action, then there will be a series of by-elections, which will further divert attention away from matters of public importance.
Stability is urgently needed for council to become functional again, so that critical matters such as the budgetary shortfall, the section 106 report into maladministration and the sewerage crisis, can be discussed and dealt with.
The DA is thus calling on failing ANC Provincial Chairperson, Zamani Saul, to do what is best for all the people of Kimberley and not just what is best for Patrick Mabilo in the mayoral succession race.
Sol Plaatje municipality is a ticking time bomb and is on the verge of being unable to pay salaries and patch sewerage leaks. If the failing ANC cares at all, it will disarm this bomb, not let it explode in the faces of Kimberley residents.
Media Enquiries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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