DA is killing off the Provincial Development Council
The DA led Western Cape provincial government is acting in bad faith by unilaterally getting rid of the statutory body which compels it to listen to development suggestions and work with social partners like labour, business and civil society.
The ANC says this is but one more action to close down democratic space for public participation and consultation in the province.
"In effect it means that breadwinners of almost ten families are fired when the Provincial Development Council (PDC) is closed down.
"It is a known fact that government cannot develop on its own to create and ensure a better life for all people. Other allies must be made part of it. By being part of this process, the government enhances its Constitutional obligation - in Section 105 (1) (e) and (2) - to engage on matters that affect people.
"The province not only loses important social capital, but also an avenue for people to engage with it. Thus it is a double loss to citizens," says Lynne Brown, ANC Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape legislature.
The DA members in the legislature blindly follow the wishes of their leader. They want to steamroller this decision without looking at the objections to closing down the PDC. The ANC will register its objection with reasons and vote against the upcoming PDC Repeal Bill.
The standing committee passed the Bill yesterday afternoon that will next serve in the legislature without even one person from outside supporting the intended closure.
Instead limited consultation took place and the committee spend fortunes travelling to George by plane to hear four objections and to be informed that the public were not informed of the gathering!
"In a note to the Bill containing the objects, it is falsely stated that the Auditor General (AG) thought the PDC annual report to be questionable. In fact the PDC had an unqualified report in the face of the provincial government having digressed in the past year, as the AG informed the legislature," Brown says.
Statement issued by Lynne Brown, ANC leader of the opposition in the Western Cape legislature, November 16 2011
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
