RUST-TER-VAAL. – The Democratic Alliance has said that it has reported an African National Congress (ANC) Councilor to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) after being informed by residents of the Ramaphosa Informal Settlement near Rust-ter-Vaal that they have been corruptly and criminally bullied with fraudulent demands for payments.
The party said that the councillor is said to be charging residents a R100, once-off fee for stands and a further R240 for water.
“The accused perpetrator is a candidate councillor for an upcoming ANC by-election in Ward 16 in the Emfuleni Municipality. There is no reason why residents should be charged for water when they are being provided with water tankers by the Gauteng department of Human Settlements. Residents have also reported that he told them to pay a once-off charge of R700 for electricity. It is criminal that residents should be robbed of their hard earned money in this fraudulent way, for personal gain.”
The DA said that one resident said her shack was demolished for failing to pay all these unscrupulous fees.
“She has since opened a case at the De Deur Police Station and was provided with a case number only after the DA intervened. It is a disgrace for an aspiring candidate councillor to steal from the poor. The DA will assist the community to ensure that justice is served.”
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, ANC Sedibeng Regional Task Team (RTT) Spokesperson, Siphiwe Mgcina said that the matter has been brought to their attention and that an internal probe is underway.
“The matter has been brought to our attention (and) we have instituted our own internal probe. We will issue out our response once it’s concluded.”
