MEC
Mokoena condemns attack on House of Emalahleni Municipality’s speaker
8 April 2010
The MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs,
Mr Norman Mokoena has condemned in the strongest possible terms the attack on
the house of the Speaker of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Cllr Paul Van Castle.
He said that it was very disturbing that when the municipality has embarked on a
process of addressing issues that
have been raised in a report following an investigation that was conducted in
the municipality in terms of section 106(1) (b) of the Local Government
Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (act No.32 of 2000), some people engaged in criminal
activities and attacked the house of the Speaker. The investigation which
centred on allegations of maladministration, fraud, nepotism, corruption, and
poor service delivery was commissioned by MEC Mokoena after he received
allegations that the municipality was failing to meet its constitutional
obligations.
MEC Mokoena stated that while government respect’s the rights of individual’s to
protest however such protests should be within the ambit of the law. “As
government we will not allow people to engage in criminal activities and
intimidate people, vandalise and destroy public and private property. We have
embarked on process to deal with the challenges that have affected the
municipality and we therefore appeal to the community to allow the necessary
processes to unfold, so that all individuals implicated in any wrong doing can
face the law. We will not be intimidated or deterred by suspect criminal
elements in our efforts to root out any forms of corruption.” said Mokoena.
He further emphasised that this government has got an open door policy and at
all times is willing to engage in dialogue with communities to address all
problems. “We appeal for calm to return to area of Emalahleni. People must not
allow criminal elements to mislead them with disinformation.
Government remains committed to the
resolution of issues raised by the communities of Emalahleni. We also encourage
the community leaders and the community at large to engage in dialogue to
resolve any dispute. Every possible step will be taken to investigate, apprehend
and ensure that the perpetrators of violence and intimidation are brought to
book and face the full might of the law. ”said Mokoena
Enquiries:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
Issued by: Mpumalanga Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional
Affairs
