ANC condemns orchestrated power grab

The ANC in the Western Cape says it is now clear who was all along behind the orchestrated destabilisation of Oudtshoorn municipality and an earlier attempted mob attack on its ANC provincial leader Marius Fransman a few weeks ago.

The ANC also notes that the DA has expediently and summarily welcomed with open arms certain individuals who were behind poor service delivery, maladministration, nepotism and illegal appointments in Oudtshoorn and paraded them for the media as gains.

This so-called defection followed hot on the heels of the ANC's intervention to root out corruptive actions and interference in the operations of the administration. (See statement of 1 May 2013 below.)

It is abundantly clear that the power-hungry DA is behind the instability and has been actively orchestrating or planning the chaos for weeks to take control by stealth. The DA must come clean and take responsibility for what its real role was, especially that played by DA health MEC Theunsie Botha.

ANC Western Cape secretary Songezo Mjongile says: "The ANC is relieved with the defection of councillors who were at the centre of instability in the municipality and who jumped because they faced the consequences of their actions. Their opportunism has led them into the DA's welcoming arms for shelter, which could be described as good riddance.

"The restructuring of the municipality was inevitable as they lacked the nerve and patience to follow due process. The ANC contends that the meeting was already adjourned when the shenanigans took place. It was merely a DA caucus with runaways.

"The ANC is already preparing for by-elections in Oudtshoorn to win the affected wards as well as to restore the dignity and standing of the ANC in the community."

Statement issued by Songezo Mjongile, ANC Western Cape provincial secretary, May 31 2013

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