The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West questions the legality of former Member of Parliament and current ANC IPC Coordinator, Hlomane Patrick Chauke’s traveling across municipal boundaries in the North West Province amid Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
Despite the ANC’s announcement that public meetings/gatherings must be suspended and that communication be done virtually instead, it has been reported that Chauke is gallivanting around the province attending several gatherings during the lockdown period.
On 17 April, Mr Chauke addressed the media in Rustenburg, following the court appearance of Impala Platinum Mine CEO, Mark Munroe, calling for compliance of the lockdown regulations. (See link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VtQC7V2B0E&t=2s)
On 21 April, he joined the MEC for Department of Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa and Premier Job Mokgoro in Rustenburg for the media event where food parcels from Sibanye Gold and Prophet Bushiri was donated. (See picture here https://cdn.da.org.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/03052818/Receiving-food-parcel-donations-in-Rustenburg.jpeg)
On 22 April, Chauke was part of the delegation that visited the bereaved family whose son was hit by a police car in Boikhutso (see picture here https://cdn.da.org.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/05/03052856/Visit-to-Ditsobotla.jpeg). On the same day, a meeting was held at the Ditsobotla Local Municipality with ANC public officials where it is alleged that Chauke was present.
We call upon the ANC to immediately probe whether Chauke is in possession of a permit to perform Essential Services under Regulations 16(2)(b) and 28(4) of the Disaster Management Act.
According to the North West Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Patrick Asaneng, 9754 people have been arrested for contravening the various lockdown regulations.
The DA demands consistency in the application of the lockdown regulations.
If there is no reasonable explanation why former MP Chauke is afforded more rights than other ordinary citizens, the DA will press charges for the contravention of the lockdown regulations. We will ensure that the same justice imposed on ordinary citizens find its way to the political elite in the province.