The Democratic Alliance (DA) will not allow political infighting in the Gamagara ANC-EFF coalition to bring further dysfunctionality to the municipality. This comes after the DA was purposefully misled about the cancellation of an ordinary council meeting during which we intended to table a motion to demand accountability for the recent irregular appointment scandal. The scandal relates to the appointment of 21 people into 14 positions.
The DA had been waiting for the meeting to attempt to pass our recommendation for disciplinary action to be instituted against all officials responsible for the recent irregular appointment process. We also wanted an independent investigation to be launched into the role of the Municipal Manager in the signing of the related appointment letters, and his further authorisation of additional unlawful appointees.
The appointment scandal, which culminated in a costly CCMA finding, has resulted in the diversion of R1 million away from critical service delivery.
The DA is outraged at being purposefully excluded from Friday’s meeting after receiving three separate notifications and confirmations on e-mail and WhatsApp, informing us that the meeting had been postponed. This was clearly a deliberate, political ploy to keep the DA out of the deliberations.
We further note the appointment of an Acting Speaker, Thataetsile Motsoare, to chair the meeting of Friday, exposing the further exclusion of the EFF-Speaker, Goitseone Sekgopi, in a bid to politically hijack the meeting.
There is no place for internal and petty political ruction between the ANC and EFF, to spill over into the daily running of the municipality. We will also not allow rogue elements to sideline us in key decision-making processes, which we have a right and a duty to be part of.
The DA will not leave the matter here. In addition to insisting that the meeting be rescheduled, in a legitimate and legal manner, we have also requested the minutes of the illegal meeting, to determine what else the ANC is trying to hide from us.
Gamagara municipality belongs to all the residents of Kathu and its surrounds. The DA will keep on fighting to ensure that this institution is held accountable to all the people it is expected to serve.