KEMPTON’S Ward 91 committee has been disbanded after allegations of what the DA describes as “blatant irregularities”.
This comes after years of the DA fighting these irregularities on which the committee was formed in 2012.
“In October last year, the DA warned the ANC in Ekurhuleni that dysfunctional ward committees would continue to exist so long as the ruling party closed its eyes to blatant irregularities. Finally, 12 months later, a council resolution has disbanded the Ward 91 committee and prevented a new committee from forming before the next local government elections which are scheduled to be held next year,” the DA’s Johann Jordaan said in a statement issued on Monday.
Ward 91 covers the suburbs of Birchleigh North, Esselen Park, Norkem Park and Birch Acres extensions 23-44.
The election of the Ward 91 committee was held on February 1, 2012 and the ANC’s Khosi Dhladhla, a PR Councillor for the ward, arrived with several members of her party.
Ekurhuleni Metro officials and Jordaan, who were present at the election meeting, reported Dhladhla’s behaviour to the Office of the Speaker of Council, Clr Patricia Khumalo.
“This Council resolution proves that the DA was correct and that this ward committee was not properly or legally elected.”
According to Jordaan, after the election of this committee it was discovered that five of the candidates who had been elected had stated on their nomination forms that they were representing the ANC.
“In terms of legislation this is not allowed as these committees are supposed to be bipartisan and to represent the community as a whole, regardless of the individual’s political affiliation. Therefore these candidates should have been immediately disqualified from standing for election.”
A new election was scheduled for June 2013. Again, due to several transgressions of the rules at this second election, DA PR Councillor Allan Sauls (acting on behalf of Jordaan) refused to sign off on the election and reported the irregularities to Khumalo.
“In terms of Council policy, ward committee elections are supposed to be supervised inter alia by the IEC but this was not the case at the ward 91 elections and no legal voter verification system was in place to determine the validity of voting members present. The DA believes, based on complaints received from the community, that voters were bused in from other wards to vote in the ward committee,” Jordaan said.
Investigations by Jordaan after this second election showed that some of the candidates who caused the first ward committee to be dissolved were once again elected, this time claiming to represent even a fourth organisation.
“The DA wants to remind residents that when used properly and in accordance with legislation and council policy, these committees are invaluable to communities as they function as an advisory body to the ward councillor on municipal issues and needs in the ward.”
Ward Committee members should be elected only by registered voters of the ward they are meant to represent, such as residents, business associations or charity groups.
