Statement by Brett Herron, Secretary General for GOOD and Member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.
TOWN CAPTURE: DA ORCHESTRATING TAKEOVER OF GEORGE MUNICIPALITY’S OPERATIONS
The Democratic Alliance, already in political control of the troubled Southern Cape town of George, is orchestrating a legal basis for the Western Cape Provincial Government to take over the town’s administration.
Five months ago, the party announced that it was removing former Mayor, Melvin Naik, based on a report commissioned by DA Provincial Chairperson and MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell. While Naik was fired as Mayor, other DA councillors implicated in misconduct have remained at their posts.
Bredell’s report found, for instance, that the Speaker, Gerrit Pretorius, had failed to execute the duties and responsibilities of his office. Yet he remains in office, where he continues failing to execute his duties.
It is Pretorius, who faces a motion of no-confidence when the council reconvenes, whose task it is to call the council meeting to elect a new mayor and pass the annual budget. The municipality has been prepared for virtual meetings since April, but Pretorius is not in a hurry. If the municipality fails to approve a budget for the 2020/21 year it is liable to be placed under administration by the province.
It is insightful that the DA’s approach to “managing” George is precisely the opposite of its approach in Tshwane, where it is demanding that the council is re-convened and Gauteng’s administration of the capital city suspended.
The only possible conclusion to be reached from this inconsistency is that the DA is orchestrating a lawful basis for it to assume control of the administration, seal its complete capture of the town, and keep a lid on further allegations of malpractise and corruption.
The DA should comply with the law as set out by the judgement it obtained in Tshwane, and call a meeting of the George Council without further delay.
Ends…