DA accused of trying to silence opposition leaders
AN OPPOSITION councillor has maintained his innocence after being issued a letter from the Mossel Bay municipality stating that he allegedly violated the code of conduct for councillors, for requesting that charges that led to the suspension of the municipal manager be made public.
The letter from the office of the speaker to Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) councillor Dawid Kamfer said he allowed for information to reach the media, in which, among other things, he insinuated that the DA-led municipality would not hesitate to make the complaint known if it were a person of colour.
This followed the suspension of municipal manager Thys Giliomee over sexual harassment allegations recently.
Kamfer was given until yesterday to respond to why he should not be charged.
In responding papers yesterday, his lawyers said there was no merit in the charges. The papers said “no proof” existed in the “factual basis” for the charges that their client leaked correspondence to the public.
“My client has a duty through his oath of office to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“In fulfilling that duty, his right to participate in the political process and call on the municipality to be transparent in its dealings is protected by the Constitution.”
Municipality spokesperson Nicky le Roux said Kamfer's response had been received yesterday and the Speaker would comment today.
Kamfer said he wasn't shocked when he received the letter from the municipality. “I am the only councillor who speaks his mind about what is wrong because I am not only a councillor, but I am also a political leader in the Western Cape.
“I am not guilty of what they are charging me with, and before the newspaper talked to me it was already on social media, put there by the acting municipal manager. When the newspaper called me, I gave my political view as a political leader,” he said.
But DA constituency head in Mossel Bay Jaco Londt said Kamfer “failed” in his duty by communicating “confidential information” out of a closed session before a thorough process was concluded.
“The councillor tried to play politics for short-term gain and thereby negatively impacted the legal processes being followed as well as the image of the municipality by only communicating part of the information that suits his narrative,” he said.
Icosa president Jeffrey Donson accused the DA of wanting to silence the party's councillors. “The community is entitled to know. Icosa board members will continue to ask questions. Transparency is important and Icosa must play its constitutional oversight role.
“The DA wants to silence Icosa councillors everywhere, but they will not remain silent,” he said.