Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hilton Maasdorp
The DA and other opposition political parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the recently presented MPAC report. The MPAC report, presented on 5 July in Council, raised several concerns.
The report is misleading with the version tabled not accurately reflecting the original document. Additionally, there is a significant conflict between the members and the MPAC Chair, and political interference in administrative matters is evident. Mistrust is rampant within the committee, and the credibility of the report and the Chairman is under suspicion.
Furthermore, MPAC resolved to address the attendance of councillors at meetings, recommending that Cllr Roger Nhlapo and Cllr Sibisi be replaced and charged in accordance with Schedule Seven of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, due to their non-attendance. The committee also resolved to table a management letter from the Auditor General, which was not included in the 5 July report.
Following intense negotiations among the opposition parties, the DA and other parties left the meeting due to a deadlock and the inability to reach a consensus. Surprisingly, the EFF decided to support the ANC by voting in favor of the report, despite the red flags raised by the opposition parties.
It is evident that the EFF may be seeking political favors following their disappointing performance in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections and recent issues in Ekurhuleni. They might be hoping to restore trust with the ANC and potentially the Speaker of the Dihlabeng Council. Alternatively, the ANC might be seeking new political alliances in Dihlabeng