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Emfuleni Mayor Simon “sex-pest” Mofokeng allegedly resigns

The DA has been reliably informed that Simon Mofokeng, disgraced Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor and ANC Sedibeng Regional Chair tendered his resignation today.

This is a victory for the residents of Emfuleni.

Mofokeng’s resignation can be seen as an admission of guilt, as he is alleged to have sexually groomed a 14-year old girl.

Emfuleni’s poorest communities have been hardest hit by the maladministration of Mofokeng for years as he ran the municipality into the ground.

Financial mismanagement and a breakdown in basic governance have been ongoing for many years, yet despite this the disgraced Mayor has been protected politically by the ANC.

We await the response from the ANC on his resignation.

The people of Emfuleni deserve a clean and functioning government that delivers services.

The people of Emfuleni have been waiting desperately for a well deserved new beginning.

The DA will monitor all procedures followed and put the name of our candidate forward, once council votes on the matter

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DA Gauteng proposes Motion on ICT in Libraries

 

The following speeches were delivered in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature today by DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Finance, Ashor Sarupen MPL and DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Kingsol Chabalala MPL, during a debate on ICT in libraries in Gauteng.

Ashor Sarupen MPL

“Gauteng can use ICT in libraries to promote local languages”

•    This motion calls on the Legislature to use this opportunity to give meaning to sections 30 and 31 of the constitution, using technology to promote local language use, while also modernizing ICT in libraries, and, in the process stimulating the local ICT industry;
•    While Microsoft does provide basic Windows functions in isiZulu, isiXhosa and Sesotho, it is rudimentary at best, and its grammar and spell checker is not sufficiently developed for serious academic and journalistic use – which is the lifeblood of how languages thrive;
•    Our citizens should see their language rights promoted in the digital world, and should be able to select their language of choice to interface on these devices when they make use of their local library; and
•    In Gauteng, our libraries, as we modernize and move to e-government, offer a prime opportunity to stimulate the local ICT industry and protect language rights by transitioning to local language-based, open-sourced platforms on the devices that our citizens use.

The full speech can be obtained here.

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

“Libraries open up the windows to opportunity”

•    The DA in Gauteng tables this motion as it seeks to encourage young people of all walks of life to access good, reliable and efficient internet services at local libraries across the province;
•    The power of mother tongue internet services will bring our people closer together and unite all those that have felt excluded and marginalised;
•    Libraries remain empty for years, construction delays and blame shift occurs, very little to no books are bought and many remain in boxes for many months whilst internet connectivity seems to be something of the ‘future’  yet we need to adapt to the digital age and an ever transforming society; and
•    Great software makes great computing which equals successful job hunting. It is a win-win on all sides and this house should seriously consider adopting this motion and get our libraries working.

The full speech can be obtained here.

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Emfuleni hiding Mayor’s business information

The DA has today, once again, written to the Emfuleni Local Municipality Acting Municipal Manager, Collin Kekana, to request that he provide the DA and the local council with the declaration of interests of all political parties represented in council.

The declaration of interest documents were requested for the Mayor, Simon Mofokeng, all MMCs and the Whippery including the Leader of the Opposition and all chairpersons of committees.

According to the Municipal Systems Act of 2000, when elected or appointed, a councillor must within 60 days declare in writing to the municipal manager the following financial interests held by that councillor:

  • shares and securities in any company;
    • membership of any close corporation; .
    • interest in any trust;
    • directorships;
    • partnerships;
    • other financial interests in any business undertaking:
    • employment and remuneration:
    • interest in property;
    • pension; and
    • subsidies, grants and sponsorships by any organisation.

Only the municipal council can determine which of the financial interests referred to must be made public and determine what should remain private.

The refusal by the acting Municipal Manager to provide the DA with the information begs the question as to what exactly the municipality is hiding.

Simon Mofokeng and his cronies are running Emfuleni into the ground whilst allegedly running successful businesses and allegedly channelling funds through these businesses.

Should the DA not receive any response from the acting municipal manager, we will have no other choice but to submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act application (PAIA).

Emfuleni residents deserve to know the financial interests of their elected officials.

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Gauteng Government Misleads Boiketlong Community over Service Delivery Plans

Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo and Emfuleni Mayor Greta Hlongwane are misleading the community of Boiketlong with promises of service delivery.Chabalala-Kingsol

According to reports, both the MEC and the mayor met with the leadership of the Boiketlong service delivery movement on Friday, and announced the government’s plans to bring an end to the service delivery crisis.

During this meeting, the community was promised that:

  • A memorandum of understanding had been signed with Rand Water over water delivery,
  • That the Leewkuil sewage plant would be upgraded,
  • That plans were almost finalised for the installation of high mast lights and solar panels for households, and
  • That government is in the final stages of declaring the area into a township.

However, the promises and their implementation were dependent on the Emfuleni local council’s consideration and approval of said plans and agreements during a special council meeting – which took place on February 25.

Astoundingly, not one of these items appeared on the agenda for the meeting and were thus not approved.

While the next council meeting is only towards the end of March, the question is of course whether these items will appear on the agenda – or whether the MEC and Mayor are playing for time.

Every time the government misses its own deadlines, people will lose confidence in the ANC’s ability to bring about a better life.

MEC Mamabolo must realise that the longer the ANC government toys with people’s expectations through empty promises, the more likely voters will vote for DA-led government with a definitive service delivery track record.

The DA will monitor the next council meeting’s agenda to see whether the MEC and mayor are indeed serious about service delivery.

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Evaton

060 558 8299

[Image source]

 

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DA Sends Condolences to Family and Friends of Rapper Flabba

The DA passes its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of South African rapper Nkululeko Habedi, better known as Flabba who passed away in the early hours of this morning.

Habedi was part of the rap group Skwatta Kamp. According to reports, its alleged that Habedi was stabbed by his girlfriend.

Skwatta Kamp is SA’s most successful rap group in terms of the most albums sold by a  South African rap group. Flabba’s catchy lyrics  in both English and vernacular added a unique flavour to South Africa’s Hip Hop industry and will be sorely missed.

It is a sad day for South Africans, may his soul rest in peace.

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation

060 558 8299

[Image source]

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DA strongly condemns Sedibeng protests

The DA Gauteng strongly condemns the current protest action by two opposing ANC factions in the Vereeniging central business district.

 

According to reports, the protesters are demanding the resignation of district mayor Mahole Mofokeng, accusing him of corruption and nepotism. Protestors are causing havoc in the city centre by burning tyres and have brought business to a halt.

Sedibeng2

Sedibeng1

 

The DA strongly condemns violence in any form, and we call on the ANC to deal with its internal problems as a matter of urgency – as residents are being negatively affected by the spill-over into the municipality’s ability to deliver services.

 

The ANC must separate the party from the state, and ensure that internal struggles do not affect residents and business government is meant to serve. (I will insert fotos sent)

 

The DA will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the ANC is held to account for its reckless behaviour.

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Evaton

060 558 8299