By Thys Khiba – The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in MangaungMetropolitan Municipality Johan Pretorius has accused the African National Congress (ANC) of using protesting municipal workers to prevent councillors from entering the building where a mayoral election was set to take place on Wednesday.
Pretorius claims that Mangaung councillors were held hostage and manhandled by what he terms as ANC instigators.
DA accuses ANC of delaying election of mayor in Mangaung
“The DA is disgusted by events this morning where protesting municipal workers were used by the ANC as political instruments to prevent councillors from entering the building where a mayoral election was set to take place.
“The ANC’s inability to let go of the reins of power is evident in its illegal tactics to prevent the appointment of an Executive Mayor in the Mangaung Municipality,” said Pretorius.
This comes after a special council meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, 12 April from 10H00 was postponed.
On 30 March, the newly elected Speaker of the council, MarykeDavies directed that a special council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 30 March to be cancelled.
“This is as a result of threats and intimidation meted at Councillors, and in order to calm the current prevailing situation,” said Municipal spokesperson Qondile Khedama.
MANGAUNG
The opposition party leader, Pretorius said Wednesday’s events are a result of the ANC’s ‘long-standing history of corruption and self-serving interests.’
It is alleged that opposition party councillors were held hostage in the Municipal Building.
“Two DA councillors were manhandled, the SAPS was watching from a distance but took no action,” Pretorius said.
The party has called on the MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport – MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae to add more security measures at the municipal council meetings.
The DA demanded an investigation into what to took place at the municipal.
“We demand that instances of violence or intimidation during council meetings are investigated and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions,” said Pretorius.
The DA Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Roy Jankielsohn has written a letter to Letsoha-Mathae about the events which took place at the municipal on Wednesday.
“Protesting municipal officials prevented councillors, employees and members of the public from entering the building in an effort to stop a council meeting that was scheduled to take place,” said Jankielsohn.
Jankielsohn lambasted the police officials who were mandated to monitor the protest by suggesting that they did nothing to prevent protestors from intimidating individuals trying to enter the building.
“The only intervention received from the SAPS came after a phone call was made to Major General Lesia to request that councillors be escorted from the building following the adjournment of the council meeting,” said Jankielsohn.
In response to the claims, the ANC Mangaung spokesperson Ncamile Nxangisa said the party has on Tuesday, through the office of ANC Chief Whip alerted the Speaker about developments of vandalism and disruptions at the municipal offices.
The ANC councillors were advised not to attend the council meeting due to the ongoing protest that could affect their safety and security.
“Those accusations are baseless. They are neither here nor there. They are attention seeking in nature. As the ANC, we have always believe that we are the architects of democracy. And when we say that we are the architects of democracy, we don’t mean that we will embrace democracy only when it favours us.”
The ANC indicated that they are concerned about the ongoing protest by municipal workers.
“We are also concerned about the declining level of service delivery as this has been going on for at least two (2) weeks.
“There seems to be a deadlock between the employer and labour and as a result, the community is beginning to bear the brunt of poor service delivery – from waste collection to sewer spillages and water leakages,” said ANC Chief Whip Vumile Nikelo.
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