Patricia de Lille open letter to Jacob Zuma on Oudtshoorn

20 May 2015

Note to Editors: The following open letter was released today by Patricia de Lille in her capacity as DA Western Cape Leader, to Jacob Zuma in his capacity as President of the ANC.

Sir,

ANTI-DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES OF THE ANC IN OUDTSHOORN

I write to you in your capacity as President of the ANC. You have repeatedly stated that the ANC is a body that fought for the democracy and constitutional order we enjoy today. Part of that order is respect for the decisions of the electorate and the orderly transfer of power according to the law, so that the business of representative government and service delivery continues.

This means that the will of the people must be respected. As you will be aware, the Democratic Alliance now occupies, through coalition, a majority of seats in the Oudtshoorn municipal council and as such is the elected government of the day in Oudtshoorn, embodying the will of the people.

We intend to take up this mandate from the people, overturn the damage of the ANC government, and begin to deliver to the people of Oudtshoorn as we do in all other municipalities where we govern.

In the opposing benches the ANC-led coalition has refused, firstly, to accept the outcomes of democratic elections in Oudtshoorn, and secondly, has refused to call council meetings where duly processed motions of no confidence can be tabled, so that a DA mayor can be sworn-in.

ANC members and ANC-aligned politicians have abused the offices of the Speaker, the Mayor, and the municipal manager to use Council resources to defend frivolous actions in court with the ultimate aim of preventing their ejection from office.

ANC members and ANC-aligned politicians have alternately refused to hold council meetings; have suspended councillors for no reason; have used public money in litigation purely as a delaying tactic; have allegedly offered inducements to other councillors in exchange for votes; and have ignored court orders.

Our constitutional order means that the administrative processes required by law must be upheld.

I cannot accept that the ANC believes these tactics are in the best interests of democracy. This state of affairs has led to severely impaired service delivery and an unaccountable government serving the interests of its office-holders and not serving the people of Oudtshoorn.

I will be instructing DA caucus members in Oudtshoorn to proceed with the process of removing these office-holders as soon as the law permits them to. I call on the ANC to intervene with your caucus members in Oudtshoorn and to instruct them to adhere to democratic processes and procedures.

The ANC must demonstrate its commitment to democracy with actions, as well as words.

Yours sincerely,

Patricia de Lille
DA Western Cape Leader

Issued by the DA Western Cape, May 20 2015