Accountability failure is equal to injustice

IN the absence of accountability and public participation, members of the community opt for toyi-toyis, which at times turn violent or are hijacked by criminal elements.

It is unfortunate that those who participate in these for a genuine cause at times end up being victims of injustice.

The allegations levelled against Ward 45 councillor Simphiwo Plaatjies and Ward 41 councillor Simphiwe Tyukana (The Herald, April 20) are serious and justice must take its course. The former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana, faced similar allegation last year and he did the honourable thing by resigning from his position before he was convicted.

That decision was welcomed by a number of South Africans. I also believe it was in the interest of justice for the victims and it showed the respect for the office he occupied, because public elected representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which seeks to respect human rights and protect the vulnerable, especially women and children.

Councillors are bound by the code of conduct set out in Schedule 1 of the Systems Act. Councillors are accountable to the people who elected them and the code of conduct sets the framework that governs their behaviour.

Councillors should set an example to their constituents, hence the code requires councillors to “perform the functions of office in good faith, honestly and in a transparent manner”. Councillors must also act in the interests of the municipality at all times in such a way that the credibility and the integrity of the municipality are not compromised.

According to the article in The Herald, Bridget Dhlamini and others went to the office exercising their constitutional right by seeking accountability from the elected representative and she was allegedly assaulted. This cannot be tolerated.

Under the new DA coalition government in Nelson Mandela Bay, good governance and participatory democracy has collapsed. This is evident through the dysfunctionality of ward committees and the failure of ward councillors to convene regular meetings with the communities they represent.

Ward committee members are supposed to represent the interest of their sectors by convening regular meetings and giving feedback. Instead of doing their work with honesty and credibility, they line their pockets by allowing themselves to be appointed as community liaison officers in projects.

This is a conflict of interest which can simply be described as fraud and corruption.

I appeal to the consciences of councillors Plaatjies and Tyukana to protect the integrity of their office by resigning with immediate effect while the matters are being investigated, and for the council to take appropriate action by protecting the public against councillors who behave in this fashion.

Monde Vaaltyn, Uitenhage