DA welcomes sacking of corrupt ANC ward councillor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the City of Johannesburg's decision to fire ANC ward councillor, Thabo Nkhasi, after he was found guilty of corruption. This comes after it was revealed that Nkhasi was paid R15 000 for selling municipal land in Soweto to a church using council letterheads.

However, the two DA councillors who exposed this corruption to the media have been unfairly disciplined. Gauteng Local Government and Housing MEC, Humphrey Mmemezi, endorsed the decision to reprimand these two whistler-blowers when in fact the mandate for such a verdict lies with the council.

Of even more concern is the fact that similar incidents of corruption are unlikely to be exposed in the future should the controversial Protection of State Information Bill be passed in its current form. The Bill is a threat to media freedom and the democratic values entrenched in our Constitution. Ordinary South African citizens, the media, public interest groups and political parties have already voiced strong opposition to this Bill. These concerns seem to be falling on deaf ears and the public consultation process which is currently underway is largely inadequate.

The people of South Africa deserve an open, clean and accountable government. Corruption, in any form, only serves to discourage investment and undermine service delivery to the most vulnerable citizens of our country. Incidents such as this serve as a harsh reminder of what South Africa stands to lose should the Protection of State Information Bill be enforced. The DA will continue to fight to ensure that this does not happen without the adoption of key amendments.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Leader in the Johannesburg Caucus, February 14 2012

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