Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Dr Roy Jankielsohn MPL.
In light of the events which unfolded at the Mangaung Council meeting on 12 April 2023 during which protestors prevented councillors from attending a council meeting and subsequently would not allow councillors to leave the building, I have written to the Free State Police Commissioner Lt General Baile Motswenyane, requesting proactive action from the SAPS at the next council meeting.
We have requested the SAPS to ensure the safety of councillors, municipal officials and members of the public in attendance at the council meeting tomorrow.
Previously Public Order Policing were deployed to ensure the safety of councillors and municipal employees, but this did not take place yesterday and police at the scene watched events from a distance with little enthusiasm to intervene.
The disruption of council meetings is a great threat to our democratic and constitutional order. In this respect, we require the SAPS to protect our democratic order and the rights of all political role-players in an equal manner without fear or favour.
The disruption of council meetings is clearly a political strategy by the ANC using striking municipal employees as instruments to implement their political agendas.
The ANC recently lost the position of Speaker in Mangaung after the election of DA Councillor Maryke Davies. The council meetings due to take place are scheduled to appoint critical positions such as the Executive Mayor.
The ANC no longer have a majority in council after suspending some of their councillors and is now determined to prevent the election of opposition politicians into the other available positions.
The ANC have no intention of giving up power through democratic processes and has no respect for South Africa’s Constitution or the Democracy which many have fought and died for.
The DA will continue to fight to protect and maintain our democracy and the rule of law while ensuring that the corrupt and disruptive ANC is defeated at the polls in the Free State.