ACDP’s Makhetha elected as the new MPAC chairperson
KNYSNA - ACDP Garden Route regional chairperson, Councillor Patrick Makhetha, was elected unopposed to take over as the new Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) chairperson during a virtual special council meeting last Wednesday, 10 February.
Makhetha is taking over from DA Councillor Michelle Wasserman, who was appointed as MPAC chair after former ACDP Councillor Ian Uys resigned in October last year.
Makhetha this week told KPH the DA submitted a motion for his appointment and it was supported by the ANC/Cope/ KUC coalition. “What makes me perfect for the position is that the ACDP is the only party with an untarnished record with regard to fraud and corruption.
“This is in line with what is expected from the MPAC chairperson, to effectively exercise oversight over the executive of the council and to ensure good governance,” he said.
DA Councillor Sharon Sabbagh said the DA submitted five motions to council and only the appointment of an MPAC chairperson was entertained, while the other four were removed from the agenda.
“The matter was put to a vote and all eight ANC councillors, Cope and KUC voted to remove the motions from the agenda.
“The ACDP abstained from voting,” she said. Sabbagh said she was disappointed that the governing ANC/COPE/KUC coalition didn’t allow the other motions to be debated.
ANC Garden Route regional secretary Major Sokopo said the DA must start to take Knysna residents seriously and stop playing politics over petty issues.
“As the ANC we supported the ACDP to take over the MPAC position because we believe that MPAC is a pivotal committee in ensuring that there is clean governance and no maladministration,” he said.
Sokopo said the DA would rather deal with individual interests amongst DA councillors. “We are in support of the MPAC,” he said.