DA Councillor René Pohl recently laid charges against the Ward Councillor of Ward 13 after he threatened her before a recent council meeting. Councillor Pohl shared the below letter with the LETABA HERALD as she is worried that similar issues will arise in the future due to the upcoming elections in 2019. Pohl describes the times as “very volatile” and hopes to “stop any intimidation or tragic events that might occur.”
DA Councillor René Pohl writes:
As a DA Councillor representing Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Mopani District Municipality, and also represent the DA on the IEC, it is part of my responsibilities to do oversight as well as to educate and assist community members to register with the IEC to be able to vote in the upcoming elections. It is also clearly stated in the SA Constitution of Chapter 2: Bill of Rights under Political rights, section 19.(1) Every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right- (b) to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for a political party; and (c) to campaign for a political party or cause.
On Friday 2 November 2018, the Ward Councillor of Ward 13 approached me just before the Council Meeting commenced. He told me NOT to come to his ward. He did this repeatedly, pointing his finger at me.
I told him that I have every right to be there. As he walked back to his seat, other Councillors heard him saying that he will burn me. After he took his seat, he pointed his finger at me again and said:
“Do NOT come to my ward again!!! I WARN you!!!” After the Council Meeting I tried to take this up with the Mayor, Chief Whip and Speaker. I did not receive a satisfactory solution to this issue and therefore laid a criminal charge against the Ward Councillor at the police station I already received the case number.
I did this especially because many of the community members in Ward 13 told me that they do not want to complain because they are scared of the ANC Ward Councillor as he was born and bred in Ward 13.
They collect water from a small Muslim church with wheelbarrows, or they have to buy water from community members who has their own boreholes. The Ward Councillor told me on 13 November that the only problem in his ward is the gravel road that must be tarred, but there are no water problems in his ward; totally in contradiction what the community residents said, or what was observed.
The Democratic Alliance do uphold the Constitution as the highest authority, and will also follow all the correct processes in writing to the mayor as well as the Chief Whip of the Ruling Party, the Ethics Committee and all relevant political structures. The DA believe in the Rule of Law and the Law must therefore take its course.
