STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL AND MEMBER OF THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT
1 July 2021
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron has laid a criminal complaint against Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato.
The complaint, filed at Cape Town Police Station, follows the City hosting a series of at least 24 gatherings on Tuesday evening – less than 48 hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation to announce a total prohibition of gatherings due to the resurgent Covid pandemic.
Plato’s gatherings – a main event at the Civic Centre, and 24 satellite events – were ostensibly to celebrate what the City called “Mayoral Community Service Awards” but smacked of crude DA electioneering.
The events were attended by award recipients and councillors, in person, instead of being hosted virtually, as has become common to restrict physical gatherings in South Africa and across the world.
In a bizarre concession to lockdown regulations, instead of those attending the gatherings enjoying sit-down meals, they were invited to attend the awards in person but then given takeaways to eat later in safety.
It defies belief, with the country is in the grips of a highly contagious resurgence of the Covid-19 virus – the third wave – that the Mayor and City of Cape Town should rank political aspirations above citizens’ health.
The main event in the Civic Centre Banqueting Hall, including live entertainment, was meant to be broadcast to the satellite venues. Apparently the video or broadcast link was poorly arranged and did not function well to some or all of the satellite venues.
Yesterday the Mayor suggested that because the planned sit-down dinner was cancelled, and the award recipients were given takeaways, his gatherings somehow did not constitute gatherings.
“The Mayor doesn’t appear to understand that the regulations prohibit all social, political and other gatherings regardless of how those who attend eat their meals,” Herron said.
“The Mayor’s conduct in proceeding with the events was irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. His actions placed the City’s speedy pathway out of this relatively hard lockdown in jeopardy, and risked a delayed reopening of businesses in the restaurant and hospitality sector.
“He contravened the law on the same day that the Constitutional Court ruled in the Jacob Zuma matter that nobody was above the law.
“Plato is incompetent and should resign. I expect the Police and NPA to act swiftly in investigating and prosecuting the complaint,” Herron said.
Ends…