DA to request COGTA oversight at Mokgalakwena
09 November 2014
Reports today allege that the Limpopo MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mmakoma Makhurupetje, has again acted in contempt of court by ordering police to ensure that an illegal council meeting was held to elect a Speaker and a Mayor of Mokgalakwena Municipality.
It has now transpired that Mokgalakwena has two mayors and two speakers from two competing ANC factions. This municipality is degenerating into complete chaos and service delivery has come to a halt.
I will write to Parliament's COGTA Portfolio Committee to request that we visit Mokgalakwena to get to the bottom of what is going on there. Clearly, some form of national intervention is required as the Limpopo MEC is also compromised by the situation.
A court order dated 17 June 2014 prohibits both the MEC and the national Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, from intervening in terms of section 139 and assuming any executive authority over the municipality. This was confirmed in a further court order dated 4 October 2014 which additionally requires the SAPS to facilitate the restoration of the elected council and it's legitimate municipal manager.
In a bizarre show of contempt for the rule of law, the MEC reportedly permitted 9 persons who have not been sworn in (which the court order of 4 October 2014 prohibits) to sit and act as councillors, and to count towards a quorum at the illegal meeting held to elect a new Speaker and a new Mayor.
The actions of the MEC and the police must be condemned by Minister Gordhan and the Premier of Limpopo as a matter of urgency. The rule of law, and the orders of the court, must be upheld. In this regard, the DA's Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle MPL, will approach the High Court to declare the actions of the MEC and the police to be in contempt of the earlier orders.
The Democratic Alliance will not stand by and allow the separation of powers and the rule of law to be trampled on by rogue elements within the ANC who are acting as a state unto themselves. As such the Ministers of both Police and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs must ensure that the orders of the court are upheld.
Statement issued by Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, November 9 2014
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