DA to intensify monitoring of GBV cases in Upington
| by Grantham Steenkamp, MPL – DA Northern Cape Spokesperson of COGHSTA |
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| Date: 20 May 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English & Afrikaans from Grantham Steenkamp, MPL.The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape welcomes the eventual dissolution of Phokwane Council which has become nothing less than dysfunctional following ongoing factionalism and the establishment of multiple power bases within the institution.Mismanagement, corruption and thuggery have been allowed to take hold while service delivery has taken a backseat. This has been to the detriment of all the people of Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp and Pampierstad. It has also been to the detriment of DA councillors, whose hands were tied but who now, by default, form part of a failed municipality.The DA acknowledges that other interventions were taken, including the compilation of a Section 106 report and the placement of the municipality under administration twice, all of which failed. The problem all along, was the lack of enforcement of disciplinary action.In future, when councillors start to become a law unto themselves and threaten democratic processes, they should be criminally charged and also decisively dealt with by their respective political parties. Drastic action must not be delayed in order to prevent such a situation from continuing unabated for months and even years on end.The dissolution of Phokwane municipality should serve as an example of consequence management to other local government institutions. In particular, it should serve as a warning to Sol Plaatje municipality, which much like Phokwane, has become largely dysfunctional, with multiple power bases and factional warring within council.Now, at a time when we are fighting a pandemic, with limited financial resources and a multitude of service delivery challenges, there is no time to be fighting political wars within government.The DA will monitor further interventions in Phokwane municipality closely. Service delivery must now be urgently restored and sustained. This is more critical than ever before, as we gear up to face the peak of Covid-19. |
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