ANC Central Karoo Regional Statement on Truman Prince

15 February 2016

The ANC in the Central Karoo has noted media reports on the Mayor of the Beaufort West Municipality, Mr Truman Hendrik Prince, reports that relate to a letter written to the board of the CETA where Mr Prince as Mayor of the Beaufort West Municipality allegedly tried to influence the board to be sensitive when they award tenders for the skills development centre that will be built in the municipality area of Beaufort West, The letter implores the board to consider local entrepreneurs in the distribution of work.

We have also noted a paragraph in the letter that seeks to create an impression or an interpretation that the ANC as an organisation would monetarily or otherwise benefit from this effort. The ANC wants to reiterate that it is not in a business and that it does not apply or otherwise bid for tenders and will never try to sway municipal procurement processes to benefit itself and as such the ANC distances itself from such intention if at all it exist. In the same breath the ANC has met with Mayor Prince through internal structures and processes to deal with this matter.

The ANC wish to state categorically that internal disciplinary actions are not punitive in their nature but restorative and rehabilitatory and as such at the conclusion of this process, The ANC and Its Mayor had resolved as follows:

1. That Mayor Prince apologise to the ANC NEC, PEC and REC for his conduct both in respect of this alleged letter and his utterances to weekend newspapers. 

2. That Mayor Prince be fined an amount of R10 000 for bringing the organisation to disrepute, half of this money be suspended for a period of 6 months. 

The ANC wish to make it clear that we understood that whilst the tone of the Letter in some instances was unfortunate, the intention of the Mayor is clearly noble particularly because we exist in a poverty stricken region and that it would be sad that even when big construction will be taking place in our region, the local people be placed at the bottom of the value chain.

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape on behalf of Windy Plaatjies, Regional Secretary, ANC Central Karoo Region, 15 February 2016