The Democratic Alliance yesterday staged a walk-out of a Dawid Kruiper council meeting in protest of the many motions, service delivery complaints, proposals and formal requests for investigations submitted by the DA that simply get pushed under the carpet when council ends.
The DA forms a legitimate part of council and we have a mandated duty and responsibility to serve our communities by raising serious issues that affect them in council meetings. The disregard shown by the municipality to the matters we raise, is insulting to the communities whose interests we represent.
Despite numerous motions being passed in council, nothing agreed upon ever gets implemented. Years ago, I asked the municipality to consider a by-pass at the Olifantshoek-Nambia crossing. There was unanimous consensus that this was needed. Years later, nothing has been done.
In 2016, the DA asked for an investigation into the misappropriation of R90 000 in relation to a ward committee but again, nothing ever happened. Even the investigative officer gave up trying because the municipality did not cooperate in providing him with statements.
More recently, the DA raised serious complaints in respect of councillors allegedly awarding plots to residents. We were simply called liars and our concerns were rubbished.
We refuse to tolerate such disrespect towards such important matters.
Yesterday, before we walked-out, the DA addressed service delivery issues, financial issues, the matter of empty and vandalized buildings going to ruin, as well as the need for the municipality to start working towards harness renewable energy and decreasing the municipality’s independence on the grid. We know that if we allow it to be business as normal, none of the matters we raised will ever see the light of day again.
We are certain that the walk-out, which was supported by the Vryheidsfront-Plus, has sent a strong message to the municipality. They should now realise that we mean business and will not tolerate their indifference towards the matters we bring to council.
We are busy compiling a summary of motions, proposals and investigations that were sidelined and will present this to council, with a demand that they provide us with an implementation plan.