GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse,
GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip
7 September 2023
The GOOD party is disappointed in the DA provincial leadership closing ranks and protecting Drakenstein Mayor Conrad Poole.
GOOD has noted the newfound interest in Drakenstein, conveniently whilst Mayor Poole is being investigated by the council speaker, Koos Le Roux for an alleged pay-for-jobs scheme.
It has been 3 weeks since the GOOD Party requested the investigation into Poole.
Whistleblowers alerted GOOD to an apparent internal DA investigation. It was alleged that Members of his executive are reportedly paying a monthly kickback to the mayor.
The DA has failed to be transparent about the process and take the residents of Drakenstein into its confidence.
The DA continues to protect their interests over and above the interests of the 305,000 residents of Drakenstein who deserve answers.
Instead, residents have been bombarded with provincial DA heavyweights on a public relations campaign.
Videos circulating of Premier Alan Winde conducting a PR-stunt with Poole, as well as the MEC for Infrastructure, Tertius Simmers, grandstanding with the mayor and miraculously finding the political will to see to a much-needed housing project in Simondium.
It is worth noting that DA members like Albert Fritz, Bonginkosi Madikizela and former WCPP speaker, Masizole Mnqasela, were suspended when facing off against investigations either by the party or the relevant spheres of government.
GOOD questions why Mayor Poole has been allowed to remain on active duty.
If there was no internal DA investigation or if Poole had been cleared of the allegations, why the DA has not come out and said so?
The residents of the Western Cape’s second-biggest municipality need answers.
The Democratic Alliance had multiple chances to do right by the residents of Drakenstein, instead, it chose one man over its own values.
GOOD demands that Mayor Poole be suspended whilst the speaker’s investigation continues.
As we approach the 2024 National elections, this is a move by the DA to protect their votes, instead of acting in the interest of clean governance.
Media Enquiries:
Keagen Gertse, GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip
Cell: 081 063 7749
Email: keagengertse@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za