It is an absolute disgrace that the final council meeting of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality’s current term could not proceed this morning due to poor attendance.
The Council could not obtain a quorum. Out of 66 councillors, only 23 turned up – 7 opposition members (Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) 2, DA 3, PA 1, ACDP 1) and 16 ANC members.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, failing to attend meetings demonstrates contempt for the public. Councillors are elected and paid by the public to be present. Instead, they decided to stay away from the final meeting where important matters affecting Kimberley were to be finalised.
This raises the question of how residents are supposed to trust that these parties will serve their interests after the elections if they cannot even show up for work now?
Items on the agenda included the alienation and leasing of municipal property, the appointment of the municipal electoral officer and the reappointment of the Council’s chairperson of Risk Management.
Property-related matters always have a history that new councillors are unaware of. So, this meeting was crucial.
The Speaker mentioned that another meeting would be convened next week. Only time will tell if an official notice will be issued and whether councillors will deem it important enough to show up then.
The Freedom Front Plus requests the Speaker of Sol Plaatje, Ms Dipuo Peters, to regularly publish the attendance register of meetings, particularly of this failed meeting.
Every resident has the right to see which parties and councillors are doing their jobs and which are absent.
Kimberley residents deserve better. They vote for representation, not empty chairs. It is time for councillors to show up and work.
