Sol Plaatje must turn streetlights on for festive season
by Safiyia Stanfley – Federal Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network
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Date: 26 June 2018
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the strong support we received from the Nieuwoudtsville community at our picket against the mayor of Hantam at the Nieuwoudtsville Magistrate’s Court today. The mayor, Roger Swartz, is facing a charge of assault laid by DA councillor, Jeanette Steenkamp, following an altercation in his office earlier this year.
The matter has been postponed to the 20th of July 2018 to be heard in Calvinia by a different presiding officer.
We trust that our request for Councillor Steenkamp to be allowed to return to council and resume her duties will be successful. Councillor Steenkamp was given a mandate by her community and carries the public’s vote of confidence, but the mayor’s attacks and verbal tirades prevents her from doing her job.
The charge laid against the mayor does not stem from his conduct in council, but from his personal conduct. It is therefore worrying to note that the council has decided that the municipality must foot the bill for his legal costs.
We remain confident that the outcome will be in our favour. It is heartening to see so many women from different political parties and segments of society joining us in our protest and raising their voices with us to say that enough is enough. We do not tolerate or condone any form of violence committed by men against women and the actions of the mayor must be condemned in the harshest terms.
Only a DA-led government can bring the necessary change to ensure that public representatives are held accountable for their actions.
Media Enquiries
Safiyia Stanfley
Federal Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network
084 919 4157
Tharina Whittaker
Researcher
071 251 5558
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