Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
| by Grantham Steenkamp, MPL – DA Northern Cape Spokesperson of COGHSTA |
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| Date: 17 March 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will not give up trying to open up the can of worms of Sol Plaatje municipality. This is despite the legislature last week stonewalling our attempt to schedule a debate on the state of the province’s capital municipality and the ignored Section 106 report into corruption in the municipality.The DA has, for the second time this year, referred the matter back to the COGHTSA portfolio committee chairperson, Limakatso Koloi. We want the legislature committee to deliberate on this matter and summons Sol Plaatje, as well as COGHTSA, to the legislature so that we can receive a firsthand account of what is and is not happening in terms of stabilizing this municipality.As a key oversight body, the legislature cannot simply sit and watch as the Municipal Manager, Goolam Akharwaray, and Chief Financial Officer, Lydia Mahloko, remain on suspension with full pay, for more than two years already. This, while their positions are temporarily filled with officials seconded by COGHSTA.We deem it critical that the controversial Section 106 report, which was long ago made public, is dealt with in an open and transparent manner. Until clear-cut actions are taken in response to this report, which requires strict disciplinary action to be taken against implicated municipal officials, Sol Plaatje will continue to remain in limbo.The DA has given Koloi ten days to respond to our letter. We hope that she gives our request the attention it deserves.Neither Koloi nor the ANC must think that we are going to give up on this matter. We strongly suspect that there are forces at play that do not want to expose the rot in Sol Plaatje because of the implications this will have on high ranking officials and even politicians.Well, the DA has news for them, no amount of delay tactics will deter us in pursue of finalizing this matter. This is because the people of Kimberley deserve better and they will only receive better once the municipality is freed from the shackles of corruption and allowed to once again move forward. |
| Media Enquiries |
| Grantham Steenkamp, MPLDA Northern Cape Spokesperson of COGHSTA071 797 6292 Shelley De WittResearcher082 847 1387 |
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