Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
by Reinette Lienbenberg Cllr – Democratic Alliance Caucus Chairperson in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
Date: 07 June 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
Democratic Alliance councillors Shaine Griqua and Ockert Fourie today walked out of the Housing Committee meeting of Sol Plaatje Municipality after the chairman denied them the opportunity to hold the municipality to account.
The chairman, councillor Plaatjies, failed to acknowledge and listen to a point of order from DA councillor Griqua.
The issue of contention was the failure of the municipality’s administrative staff to provide a status report on the current status of Sol Plaatje’s rental property.
Councillors debated when further meetings of the committee will take place, during which time councillor Griqua raised a point of order.
The chairman decided to ignore the point of order raised by councillor Griqua.
The chairperson’s refusal to acknowledge a point of order from the Democratic Alliance is against the Standard Rules of Order for Council and Committees for the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, as adopted in 2011. Section 44 of the Standing Rules of Order allows for points of order to be raised, whereafter the chairperson may decide if the point can be entertained.
Due to the walk-out of the councilors from the Democratic Alliance, the meeting could not continue as there was no longer a quorum. With the four members of the ANC who are supposed to be on the committee, there could have been a quorum if the ANC councilors were all present.
These meetings are often postponed because of political commitments, leaving the issue around management of rental property still unresolved.
Media Enquiries
Reinette Lienbenberg Cllr
Democratic Alliance Caucus Chairperson in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
071 733 2640
Tharina Whittaker
Researcher
071 251 5558
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