‘We are being muted’

COPE has accused the ANC of stalling tactics after the scheduled swearing-in of its two members as the new Members to the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) did not take place yesterday.

The two members, Ennie Mompe and Christiaan Liebenberg, who will replace Pakes Dikgetsi and Fred Wyngaard, were instead introduced to the media yesterday.

Dikgetsi and Wyngaard resigned as MPLs late last month, saying they were going to “focus on party work” in the run-up to the 2014 general elections.

During yesterday’s press conference, Wyngaard said the ANC was “exploiting loopholes” by postponing the swearing-in, to prevent the voice of Cope being heard in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

The Office of the Speaker, however strongly denied this.

“The only reason for the delay was the unavailability of the Speaker, Kenny Mmoiemang, who had to attend to an urgent official matter out of town. The Deputy Speaker, who could have stood in for him, unfortunately took ill yesterday due to a recurring throat problem,” Mpho Masina, media liaison officer in the Office of the Speaker said.

She also said that the scheduled swearing-in ceremony would take place today instead at 2pm.

“On the legislature’s part, there were no delaying tactics and there was nothing sinister about the one-day postponement,” Masina added.

Meanwhile, addressing the media, Liebenberg said he would not only focus on, but would also be very verbal regarding the Province’s finances.

“The overspending by departments during the last 20 years is a serious cause for concern. In the legislature, I will ask serious questions regarding spending and demand answers in this regard,” Liebenberg said.

Mompe indicated that she would focus on strengthening women’s structures in the party.

Liebenberg, a former DA member, said he was looking forward to converting not only individuals but also whole branches of the DA strongholds across the Province to Cope.

In the reaction to this statement, the DA said Liebenberg’s “irrational utterances and reckless comments” were not only compromising current coalition agreements between the DA and Cope in the Province but could also cause a personal conflict of interest for him as well.

“When Liebenberg worked for the DA, he appeared to understand the importance of building a united opposition front and that joining forces with like-minded parties was a critical step towards the realignment of politics in the country,” DA provincial leader, Andrew Louw said yesterday.

“It now appears that Liebenberg portrays himself as the new messiah of political realignment.”

He added that Liebenberg initially applied to become a councillor for the DA in the Namaqua District in 2011 but was unsuccessful.