THE ANC said yesterday that irregularities in three DA-controlled municipalities on the Garden Route were reason for Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka to place them under administration.
However, the DA fired back that the ANC should get its own house in order first.
ANC Southern Cape secretary Putco Mapitiza said his party had reported “acts of fraud, maladministration and corruption” in the Oudtshoorn, George and Eden District municipalities to Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell, but “it is evident that the DA’s political objectives are more important than improving the lives of our community”.
The ANC-controlled Bitou Municipality had also asked Bredell to dismiss DA councillor Johan Brummer because he had been found guilty of misconduct, “but to no avail”.
“We call upon Minister Sicelo Shiceka to place Oudtshoorn, George and Eden municipalities under administration. This exercise will ensure that the plight of the people is prioritised,” Mapitiza said.
George-based DA MPL Marius Swart said that if the ANC wanted any local authorities to be placed under administration “they should start with their own”. He said service delivery was still taking place in the three municipalities, “despite some political problems”.
“The same cannot be said for ANC-controlled municipalities where communities are protesting in the streets because service delivery has collapsed.”
Mapitiza said “continuous instability” in the DA municipalities and in-fighting with the party’s coalition partners “demonstrates that the DA is prepared to cling to power even if it means long-term legal and financial implications and non- compliance with legislation”.
Swart said most of the matters Mapitiza was referring to were either under judicial review or were issues which should be dealt with by the respective council. “The ANC must learn about the rule of law. The legal route must take its course.”
He also said: “The accusation of nepotism is rich. The practice of cronyism and jobs for pals has been perfected by the ANC.”
The ANC should test its claim that the DA had broken laws, such as practising bribery. “All they need to do is lay a charge with the police,” Swart said.
Source: The Weekend Post
