Newspaper article a complete fabrication
Today I laid a complaint at the South African Press Ombudsman against the newspaper Son.
This followed after the newspaper on Friday 26 October wrongfully reported that I am no longer the Executive Mayor of Swellendam and that I was "kicked out" on the 15th of October.
In the same article "Oud-Mayor toe Ge-bust" the Son reported that I was "caught" for "house-breaking", that I was "arrested" and that I even appeared in the Magistrate's Court on Thursday 25 October. All of this is a complete fabrication.
I simply entered the municipal building and my Mayoral Office on Saturday 20 October with my own set of keys in order to check on my belongings and my office door after two attempts were made on Friday 19 October to unlawfully break into my office whilst I was in Cape Town. The SAPS then had to be called in by me to thwart these attempts at breaking and entering. And again on Saturday the 20th I had to call for SAPS assistance after an unruly mob of ANC councillors and their cronies gathered illegally and threatened my personal safety.
The SAPS escorted me safely from the premises while a drunk, disorderly and cowardly mob of some 30 odd ANC supporters tried in vain to prevent the SAPS from doing their work.
Furthermore, the truth of the matter is that the composition of the Council of Swellendam is untouched. No lawful or valid changes took place.
On the 15th of October four ANC councillors as well as the former ACDP-councillor, Julian Matthysen, attempted to change the composition of the Council by designating Matthysen as Mayor, J. Nortje (ANC) as Speaker and A. Swart (ANC) as Deputy Mayor. These actions were entirely unlawful.
On October the 8th the same four individuals "appointed" mr. M Steenkamp, an official in the municipality, as the Acting Municipal Manager. Mr Steenkamp continues to unlawfully pose as such.
Both these meetings, the one held on October the 8th as well as the meeting of 15 October, are unlawful and therefor invalid. According to the Municipal Structures Act, only the Speaker can convene a council meeting. This was not the case in the above-mentioned meetings and any decisions taken during these meetings are therefore null and void.
In addition, mr. Matthysen's membership of the ACDP was terminated on the 14th of October and according to legislation he is no longer a councillor. A new ACDP-councillor has already been appointed.
If the Son newspaper made any effort whatsoever to contact me for comment, I would have provided them with this information. Instead the newspaper chose to publish an article composed of inaccuracies and downright lies.
It is a shame that readers of this newspaper are not informed on the true state of affairs. This flagrant disregard for the people of Swellendam must end. The councillors' behaviour is an insult to the greater public and a rejection of the democratic principles of our country.
Statement issued by Nicholas Myburgh, Executive Mayor of Swellendam, October 30 2012
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