Press statement for immediate release by Cllr Cilliers Brink, DA Tshwane Metro

By today voting against my motion to open Tshwane's Tender Adjudication Committee to the public, the ANC in the city has give a resounding "yes" vote to corruption.

The motion sought to emulate the example set by the Cape Town Municipality in allowing residents and the media to observe the decision-making process behind multi-million rand tender awards.

The widespread cronyism which disables municipal service delivery across the country, requires local political leaders to take bold anti-corruption measures.

Tshwane, in particular, has a long record of failed tender awards, which the DA, with a proactive and positive proposal, sought to end.

The Speaker of the Tshwane Council first disallowed the motion on dubious technical grounds, which the DA intends to appeal in the Rules Committee.

The ANC then still had the opportunity to agree that the motion be referred to the Executive Mayor for his consideration, but when this proposal was put to a vote all ANC councillors raised their hands against it.

The poorest of the poor, who depend most on effective government and service delivery, will be hit hardest by the continued policy of closed, back room tender awards. 

The ANC, especially Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, will have to explain themselves to these residents.

Statement issued by Cllr. Cilliers Brink, DA councillor Tshwane Metropolitan Council, September 29 2011

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