Tlokwe: DA & Combined opposition claim another victory

The Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties in Tlokwe managed to have a majority decision of the ANC of the Tlokwe City Council overturned by the Independent Electoral Commission.

At a recent special council meeting of the Tlokwe City council, the ANC forced the nomination of Mr Laws Mohlomi, the current acting municipal manager of the Tlokwe Municipality as the Municipal Electoral Officer for Tlokwe. The DA raised its objections against Mr Mohlomi's nomination by virtue of the fact that it was no secret that Mr Mohlomi acted as a party agent for the ANC in the 2013 Tlokwe by-elections. 

Concerns were also raised with regard to the transparency of Mr Mohlomi insofar as his failure to respond to general enquiries made by opposition councillors as part of their oversight functions. 

These objections wherein a heated debate simply played down by the current Executive Mayor of Tlokwe, Khotso Khumalo, as irrelevant insofar as the nomination the municipal council was obliged to make.  Notwithstanding sound arguments and a heated debate that ensued the matter was put to the vote.

All the opposition parties demanded that their votes against the nomination be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.  For obvious reasons the ANC voted in favour of the nomination and apparently it was communicated via letter to the IEC that the support of Mr Mohlomi was unanimous. 

The objections made by opposition parties were independently and in separate communication forwarded to the IEC, by MPL Chris Hattingh, the provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance, and Kenneth Maduna a councillor from COPE, together with a copy of the actual council resolution to indicate that opposition parties were not satisfied with the nomination.   

In a letter addressed to the Municipal Manager of the Tlokwe Municipality on 23 April 2014 the Tlokwe City Council was notified that Mr Mohlomi's nomination is rejected and the objection grounds that were raised by the Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties during the earlier special council meeting was echoed as the basis for the rejection.

The Democratic Alliance considers this to be a double victory in the interest of free and fair elections and the rule of law.  It should be a reminder to the ANC that a majority vote cannot legalise something which is on face value against the provisions and objectives of legislation. 

On the negative side this whole situation is just another example where sound principles of a participative democracy is sacrificed on the altar of the sole interest of the ruling ANC. 

It is clear that Mr Mohlomi was due to be deployed to serve the interest of the ANC,  as this is the only explanation why the ANC was clearly not willing to opt for a Municipal Electoral Officer that would have been acceptable for all concerned parties. 

Statement issued by Cllr. Hans-Jurie Moolman, DA North West, April 24 2014

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