DA must now step up to solve Oudtshoorn woes

10 May 2015

DA must now step up to solve Oudtshoorn woes

The ANC calls on the newly elected national DA leader Mmusi Maimane to put petty party politics aside and as urgent priority put the town of
Oudtshoorn's interests first.

The ANC Western Cape calls on him to immediately focus on solving the crippling state of affairs in the Oudtshoorn municipality.

A support and turnaround package is on offer to:

- Create a functional and responsive municipality;

- Bring this embattled municipality to a state of normalcy;

- Conduct an audit of state of services in communities;

- Ensure a sound financial management system and processes; and

- Regain the community’s trust.

This package came about after national minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs Pravin Gordhan engaged various stakeholders during his visit of 20 February 2015.

The interactions included engagement with ordinary people on the streets, interest groups, political parties, business and community leaders, the local municipality's Audit Committee Chairperson, councillors of Oudtshoorn, mayor, deputy mayor and acting municipal manager.

Gordhan consulted with Western Cape premier Helen Zille and her MEC of local government Anton Bredell on the state of governance and service delivery in the Oudtshoorn municipality, and there was agreement on the need for support and intervention to bring stability.

Because of the personal political ambitions of then provincial DA leader Ivan Meyer the implementation of the above package fell on the wayside.

The ANC calls on the DA to once and for all put aside petty party politics and come to the assistance of a battered community at the hands of a few individuals who hold the whole town ransom.

The DA governs the Western Cape and Oudtshoorn falls within the boundaries of the Western Cape and needs to be attended to with the same vigour and enthusiasm as in any other suffering town.

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape, May 10 2015