The GOOD Party has criticised Drakenstein council speaker Koos le Roux for failing to convene a meeting to discuss corruption allegations levelled against mayor Conrad Poole.
Poole is alleged to have participated in a pay-for-jobs scandal.
In response to a demand for an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, Roux declared that a thorough investigation into the mayor’s conduct would be conducted.
Nevertheless, the GOOD party finds the speaker’s answer unsatisfactory.
Keagan Gertse, the party’s caucus whip and councillor, said Roux ought to allow the council to carry out its responsibilities without disruptions, suggesting that an investigation in progress would not be hindered by the discussions.
“The speaker has responded by saying the allegations are under investigation by his office and are sub judice,” Gertse said.
“He adds that ‘I cannot allow any discussion in council that could impede my assessment of the reasonability of the suspicion or compromise the process’.
“However, the speaker’s investigation should not limit the council’s constitutional right to hold local government accountable. The merits of the debate were not to discuss whether Poole is guilty of an offence or not.
“It was to determine whether the office of the speaker, members of the mayoral committee, and the DA caucus in Drakenstein can confirm or deny whether the mayor is being investigated, and if so, for what charges.”
Gertse also criticised the DA for its handling of the allegations against its mayor, raising concerns of untrustworthiness.
He said the DA needs to come clean and inform the public about the allegations and the investigation undertaken.
“Residents of this municipality should know if their number one resident can be trusted with managing a budget of R3.4-billion and that his hands are clean,” he said.
“It remains the DA’s responsibility to inform the people if the organisation is investigating the mayor.
“The responding statement by DA interim provincial leader Tertius Simmers has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations against Poole, and that in itself leaves room for grievous concern.”
Gertse also pointed out a contradiction in the DA’s presentation of itself as a moral authority while denying a platform for council to address wrongdoing, suggesting a departure from the party’s claimed values.
“Considering that the DA portrays itself as the moral authority of society, its refusal to grant opposition parties a platform against alleged wrongdoing speaks volumes.
“It is becoming evident that the DA will cast aside its own values just to protect an individual,” said Gertse.
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