The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Sol Plaatje today strongly opposed the authoritarian manner in which the ANC once again bulldozed through a new suspension of the Municipal Manager (MM), Thapelo Matlala, along with the contract extension of convicted fraudster, Busisiwe Mgaguli, as the acting MM, without providing Council with any information and deferring from putting the matter to a vote.
Claiming that the municipality opened charges against Mr Matlala on 28 December, without providing details and grounds for the charges, does not inspire confidence and is grossly inadequate to secure our endorsement of recommendations forced on Council.
The DA had intended raising our many concerns about the lack of available evidence against Mr Matlala, the ANC’s failed attempt at hiding the fraud charges against Mgaglui from the opposition, as well as its ongoing contravention of due process in matters relating to Matlala’s suspension and Mgaguli’s appointment, in todays’ Special Council Meeting. We also wanted to probe contractual work and payments concluded under the management of Mgaguli.
By using the Council meeting as a rubberstamp, while failing to open the floor for engagement and avoiding putting the matter to a vote, despite widespread disagreement from the entire opposition, the ANC has shown that it is pushing its own party political agenda. This is at the cost of transparency and service delivery.
The open-ended suspension and contract extension pushed through today, raise further red flags, as do attempts by the ANC to fabricate information, in attempt to build their case. The ANC’s determination to avoid due process and act as a law unto itself, will not hold up in a court of law, and will ultimately be their own downfall in this growing municipal manager saga.
The DA will continue to fight against the unregulated circus that has been unleashed on Sol Plaatje municipality, as we continue to lobby for full disclosure, adherence to the law and accountability of all stakeholders involved.