DA `was malicious'
2007-11-01
FOLLOWING the floor crossing period and the loss of power by the DA coalition, animosity during council meetings has been growing.
During last Thursday's meeting the DA’s suspension of the municipal manager in July, was dubbed malicious by the ANC.
During the same meeting, the level of debate deteriorated to name calling between the DA and deputy mayor Wilhelm Nothnagel, who crossed the floor from the ID to the ANC.
At the Drakenstein council meeting last week Thursday, there were jeers and derisive remarks like “Mongol”, parried by “you could not have walked over, you rolled over”.
The remarks were instigated by the ANC’s insistence on obtaining the minutes of meetings held 16 July and 26 and 29 August while the DA led-coalition was in power.
Said Arthob Petersen (ANC): “Serious decisions, one of which was to suspend the Municipal Manager, Dr Sidima Kabanyane, were taken.
“The lives of people were maliciously damaged during these meetings. It’s just fair and right that the minutes of these meetings be sent to all councillors.
“A decision was already taken by Council to distribute these minutes, but nothing has happened so far,” Petersen said.
Deetlefs du Toit (DA) replied that it was deputy mayor Wilhelm Nothnagel who had mentioned the “meeting” of 16 July and that the DA had had nothing to do with such a “meeting” to suspend Kabanyane.
The DA in turn submitted a motion regarding the 2010 bid committee, requesting a detailed report on progress with the Drakenstein 2010 soccer base camp bid.
Petersen, chairperson of the soccer bid project, gave a verbal report regarding the progress, but the DA still insisted on a detailed report.
This lead to another string of insults and comments flying across the chamber between councillors.
The ANC alleged that the DA had not done anything about the 2010 soccer bid while they were in power.
“And now that we are back in power for a few weeks, you want detailed reports. What did you as the DA do about the 2010 soccer bid?” Petersen wanted to know.
Petersen added that a detailed report had been submitted to all councillors in August, while the DA led-coalition was in power, but that it was never discussed at any council meeting.
“The report is also available at administration. So you can wait for a report until the cows come home,” Petersen retorted.
* During this week’s meeting the Drakenstein Local Economic Development Strategy (LED) was accepted.
The LED strategy outlines the development of an enabling environment for economic growth that will benefit all of its citizens, especially those who are poor.
In particular it aims at ensuring local black economic empowerment that results in real material benefit.
The strategy has been developed based on an analysis of the local economy, its connections to the wider district, provincial and national economy and an analysis of the living conditions of the people of Drakenstein.
It gives particular attention to local structural opportunities and constraints.
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