MEC Maile misleads the public yet again

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has noted the content of the press statement by Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC Lebogang Maile, as well as the social media postings by the Gauteng Provincial Government on Sunday 8 March 2020 that he has submitted a letter to the City of Tshwane Speaker, Katlego Mathebe, to inform her of the dissolution of council and the implementation of Section 139.

The DA has confirmed that neither Mathebe, nor any of her officials within her private office have received such communication from Maile.

The supposed delivery dates of such notices, as mentioned in the various press releases is misleading and untrue.

The MEC is not following due process in terms of the constitution and continues to mislead the public while creating confusion within the administration.

The DA and its councillors will continue to serve the public as if it is business as usual and will approach the officials to continue to deliver services.

Maile is defying the democratic will of the people.

The conditions to allow him to intervene do not exist in Tshwane.

He must not be allowed to abuse his powers.

After next year’s local government elections there are likely to be dozens of Councils governed in minority situations like Tshwane.

If Maile’s actions set a precedent then no Council is safe from any of the 8 provinces currently governed by the ANC. But if he still wishes to proceed with an illegal process, we will meet him in court and will ask that he be ordered to personally pay the costs when he loses.

DA remains committed to serving the people of NMB

Reports today about the possibility of an election in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) where a DA-led coalition has been in government, seek to distract us from the most pertinent issues.
The reality is that the people of NMB rejected the ANC at the ballot box during the 2016 Local Government Elections. They made it clear, through their vote, that they wanted total change. They gave the DA and our coalition partners the mandate to govern with the commitment to root out corruption and deliver basic services fairly and equitably.
The coalition government has already made great progress in rooting out corruption, bringing about financial stability and delivering services across NMB, more so to poor areas which were neglected by the previous ANC government.
We cannot seek to put those very same voters through an election when their voices have been heard loud and clear, not just in NMB but in Tshwane and The City of Johannesburg.
We also cannot be held to ransom and be forced to make decisions which will not be in the best interest of the people that we serve.
The DA remains committed to working with all our partners to ensure that we do not fail those who have entrusted us with a mandate to lead them to a corruption-free and working city.
We will continue to engage further with those whom we govern with so we ensure that we do not lose sight of what is most important, the voters.