The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands an urgent investigation into the mysterious disappearance of four petitions submitted by the party on 29 May 2025 during a Tshwane Metro Council meeting.
The party submitted four petitions – concerning power outages in Ward 55, the Hillcrest public swimming pool, illegal buildings in Ward 98 and a request to declare Centurion a disaster area for the rehabilitation of 64 sinkholes – to the Council.
The submission of these petitions during the meeting was clearly captured on video.
It, however, came to light during a meeting of the Metro’s Petitions Committee on 21 August that none of the petitions had been tabled to the Committee and no-one could explain what had happened to them.
The Freedom Front Plus has also received complaints from residents who submitted petitions to the Committee, but never received any feedback.
This negligence is exacerbated by the Office of the Speaker’s inept handling of petitions, which violates procedural protocols and the Municipal Systems Act that requires transparency and public participation.
This not only undermines the credibility of the Tshwane Metro Council as a democratic institution, but also infringes on the rights of residents who rely on the mechanism to voice their concerns.
The Freedom Front Plus demands the immediate implementation of reforms to create a transparent and accountable petition system.
Such a system should include the digital registration of each petition with a unique reference number and timestamp, as well as automatic confirmation of receipt to submitters and relevant departments.
Furthermore, petitions should also be formally scheduled on the Committee’s agenda with clear timelines for their discussion.
The Freedom Front Plus will not hesitate to take the matter further, including escalating it to the Provincial Legislature.
Councillors and residents’ rights should be protected to restore the people’s faith in local government.
