Speaker Fernandez’s head must roll!
8 July 2016
The Western Cape ANC repeats its call that Western Cape legislature DA speaker Sharna Fernandez must resign or be fired for breaking the Electoral Act and misleading the public.
The Western Cape ANC says this DA speaker must now prove what the truth is in conflicting statements.
Fernandez first confirmed to the media she changed the address of her registration on the common voters roll with the IEC to Beaufort West for the municipal election next month. Yesterday the DA and her spokesperson confirmed she is registered in Ward 72 where she normal lives in the Cape Town southern suburb of Heathfield next to Princess Vlei
To justify her illegal change of address [Act 73 of 1998, chapter 2, section 7 (3) (a)]* she then told the media she has property in the central Karoo town (which is not supported by her declaration of her interests to the legislature). Yesterday the DA and her spokesperson confirmed she has no property in Beaufort West.
This only means one thing: Both scenarios in these cases can’t be true. One each is an outright lie! The DA now tries to deflect from this embarrassment and breach of public trust.
ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs says: “Fernandez’s bedtime stories has proven that she cannot be trusted in such a high office that demands the utmost of fiduciary esteem, as public counsellor, executive authority and head of the legislature. It is unacceptable that she is allowed to lie like this and that the DA now tries to cover up her deceptions. The ANC restates it is very disturbing that a senior DA leader with the standing of a provincial speaker breaks the law to change her address when the electoral act is very clear as she is ‘ordinarily resident’ in Cape Town and ‘regularly returns after any period of temporary absence’ to her Heathfield home where she lives – as is intended in the Act.
“The ANC has evidence that she indeed broke the law and changed her registration. If she changed it back after she was caught out and the ANC put her under pressure, it is an admission of guilt and an attempt to cover-up her offense. Her addition tall tale that she has property in Beaufort West is utterly reprehensible. It is no joke or smear campaign. Fernandez brought this over herself, her party and the legislature.
“She breached the code of ethics or she unashamedly lied to the media and the public. Fernandez must now do the honourable thing, fall on her own sword and resign. If she does not, the DA must fire her for bringing the party and the legislature into disrepute. If the DA does not have the political guts to do what is right, Fernandez will be ridiculed and remain the laughing stock of the DA.”
Issued by Cobus Grobler on behalf of the ANC, 8 July 2016
