DA lays criminal charge against Northern Cape Premier, MEC
26 March 2021
Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English & Afrikaans from Grantham Steenkamp, MPL.
After countless failed attempts to hold COGHSTA accountable for its role in the dire state of municipalities I have, as a frustrated citizen of the Northern Cape, laid a criminal charge against the MEC and HOD of COGHSTA as well as the Premier, for dereliction of duty and their failure to ensure oversight of local government (see pic here).
As a member of the provincial legislature, I have utilised a range of mechanisms at my disposal to raise local government issues. Yet, I still don’t get replies to my letters, or answers in portfolio committee meetings. I didn’t even get a sense of hope that I was being taken seriously during an eventual one-on-one meeting with MEC Bentley Vass himself. Even requests to summons the errant Sol Plaatje municipality to account for the 106 Report and the prolonged suspensions of the Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer, have come to nil.