Protest over ANC ward candidate
THE CHAIRPERSON of Human Settlements at Sol Plaatje Municipality, Ronnie Morwe, has insisted that the handing over of title deeds to beneficiaries in Colville was “anything but an election ploy”.
Morwe, ANC regional chairperson, Mangaliso Matika, and ANC councillor, Shaine Griqua, officiated at the event last week wearing ANC T-shirts.
DA provincial leader Andrew Louw said that with just over three weeks before the upcoming by-election in Ward 28, the handing over of the title deeds amounted to “vote buying”.
“The former mayor of Sol Plaatje Municipality, Mangaliso Matika, together with the ANC councillor, Shaine Griqua, handed out title deeds in ANC regalia. While Ward 28 is a DA ward, which is up for contestation on April 10, we were not even informed about the handover,” said Louw.
“While the DA is pleased for the residents, many of whom have been waiting a long time to receive ownership of their houses, neither the former mayor nor the councillor has the authority to hand out title deeds.”
Louw believes that it amounted to a conflict of party and state, adding that the DA intends on lodging a complaint with both the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) and Sol Plaatje Municipality regarding the “irregular” handover of title deeds.
Support
“They have done this in a deliberate attempt to boost the party’s image and secure support in the ward. We will request clarity from the MEC of Coghsta and the acting municipal manager over who authorised them to hand over title deeds on behalf of the municipality.”
Louw pointed out that title deeds had to be handed over in line with the housing register and not to reward party patronage.
The parliamentary officer at Coghsta, Vaughan Settley, said that title deeds were handed over to 161 beneficiaries by the department, along with the Sol Plaatje Municipality and members of the provincial legislature.
“This event forms part of the national government programme of action to make every Friday a day to hand over title deeds all over the country. Most residents in these areas have been waiting for over 20 years to receive their title deeds,” said Settley.
He added that it was a “travesty” that some homeowners had died before receiving their title deeds.
“We encourage residents to visit their nearest municipal offices and request their title deeds.”
Morwe indicated that the title deeds were handed out according to a schedule.
“Beneficiaries are listed on the title deeds register with Coghsta. There has never been any vote buying.”
He added that he had attended the event as the chairperson of Human Settlements at the Sol Plaatje Municipality and not in his political capacity.
“I was representing the mayor, as a mayoral committee member. I have been handing over title deeds for years and it has never been a problem.”
Morwe explained that Matika was invited to attend the ceremony as a member of the provincial legislature, while Griqua was “a councillor at work”.
“Griqua is also serving on the Housing Settlements committee.”
Choice
He stated that everyone was free to wear T-shirts of their choice. “Even when you go and vote, the Independent Electoral Commission isn’t allowed to tell you what you want to wear.”
The spokesperson for Coghsta, Xhanti Teki, said that the department worked with municipalities across the Province to ensure that beneficiaries received the title deeds to their houses.
“The department has always been concerted in its efforts of ensuring that we restore the dignity of our people through issuing of title deeds and we are steadfast and unwavering in that commitment,” said Teki. A GROUP of residents in Ward 28 in Colville took to the streets to protest the selection of the ANC candidate for the upcoming by-elections.
The ward is tightly contested by the ANC and the DA. The DA won the ward in the previous municipal elections with Shaine Griqua under the blue banner.
About two months ago, however, Griqua defected to the ANC, resulting in a vacancy being declared in the ward.
On Monday night a group of residents voiced their anger over the nomination of the ANC candidate to contest the upcoming by-election.
The group burnt tyres and blockaded the road after their preferred ANC candidate, Martin White, was not selected.
The residents cried foul yesterday after what they called irregularities in the candidate nomination process.
According to a resident, Barnie Kock, ANC members in the area were called to a meeting in the Sweden Park Hall to nominate a candidate. “The meeting was led by Mangaliso Matika and Shaine Griqua. They introduced the three candidates – Martin White, Sebrina Engelbrecht and Sonia August. We were then told to stand by the candidate we preferred. Most of us went to stand by White.”
According to Kock, Matika and Griqua then did a headcount.
Kock added that Griqua was already promoting Engelbrecht on his Facebook page before the nomination meeting and when the announcement was made on Monday, Engelbrecht was named as the candidate to represent Ward 28 in the April 10 by-elections.
“We are very angry. We stood by White and you would have to be blind if you couldn’t see that White enjoyed the majority support,” Kock said.
The residents’ anger at the outcome boiled over and they barricaded streets and burnt tyres.
“We also want to know why Matika and Griqua presided over this nomination meeting. This isn’t even his ward. As for Griqua, he is just an ordinary comrade like me,” Kock said.
Residents have threatened to continue their protest action until Matika explains his actions.
Matika said yesterday that the “disgruntled” members had every right to approach the upper structures of the ANC.
“If they are unhappy with the outcome, they are quite welcome to approach the provincial structures of the party. We followed due processes in the nomination process.”
Matika added that he had spoken to White on Monday before the announcement was made. “He (White) indicated that he was happy with the outcome and would support the candidate.”
Residents threatened to take to the streets again if Matika did not address them.
Late yesterday afternoon the situation was calm.