Democratic Alliance statement by
Sonja Boshoff, MP
Political Head: Mbombela Constituency
Mpumalanga ANC’s criminal behaviour must be stopped
10 July 2015
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga is appalled by the behaviour of some ANC members, including a member of the mayoral committee in Mbombela municipality, and we call on the Minister of CoGTA, Pravin Gordhan, to intervene.
This week ANC Cllr, Kenneth Mkhonto, from Mbombela local municipality and member of the mayoral committee (MMC) Constance Maseko, along with six others, handed themselves to the Nelspruit police station after they allegedly set alight a house and a car belonging to a Mataffin community member. They were granted a R1000 bail each after being charged with arson and malicious damage to property.
It is ludicrous and completely unacceptable that public representative, who are supposed to set an example, behave unruly and in a criminal manner.
What concerns the DA, is that this seems to be a trend as it is not the first time that ANC public representatives have been mixed up in criminal activities in Mbombela.
On the 1st of February 2015, another ANC Councillor and MMC member, Bheki Zulu, was arrested at his home in KaNyamazane Township outside Mbombela (Nelspruit). He was accused of instigating violence and causing malicious damage to property following a clash between ANC and SACP supporters on the 25th of January 2015 in KaNyamazane.
The DA proposed that the alleged misconduct of Councillor Zulu, be referred to the Rules and Ethics Committee of Council, but the ANC majority in Council blocked the DA from doing so. The Code of Conduct for Senior Managers and the Standing Orders of Council gives Council the authority to deal with these matters as an institution responsible for ensuring accountability by the executive. The DA then took the matter to the provincial CoGTA MEC, Refilwe Mtshweni, but nothing has come of it yet.
Both these incidents are deeply concerning and require national intervention. The DA has called on its National Assembly representatives to take up these two incidents with the minister of CoGTA, as in the past the Mbombela council refused to refer similar incidents to the Rules and Ethics Committee, and letters written to the MEC for CoGTA on such issues have not motivated a response.
Under a DA led government criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.
Media enquiries:
Sonja Boshoff, MP
Political Head: Mbombela Constituency
082 429 0280
Portia Adams
Communications Manager
082 319 6666
Sydney Masinga
Media Officer
060 971 4297