Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by CJ Steyl MPL.
The DA has written to the North West MEC for COGHSTA, MEC Oageng Molapisi, the MEC for Community Safety, Wessels Morweng, and the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General Patrick Asaneng, requesting the immediate permanent deployment of the public order police unit to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality to restore order. See letter here.
This follows today’s standoff between Ditsobotla municipal workers and the former Municipal Manager, Olaotswe Bojosinyane, who allegedly attempted to access the municipal building following his Labour Court victory last week which granted him relief for full reinstatement.
It is alleged, and unconfirmed at this time, that two municipal employees were shot during the stand-off. See videos here and here.
It is alleged, that despite the unlawful decision by the ANC-led Ditsobotla Council to remove Olaotswe Bojosinyane from his position on 30 January 2025, the municipality is appealing the Labour Court judgement. See Court order here.
The DA is on record that the Ditsobotla Local Municipality must be placed under Section 139(7) national government administration to address the systemic issues plaguing the administration. Today’s events at the Ditsobotla municipal offices supports our position that municipal workers have been politicised, creating a mafia like state.
This is the result of three decades of ANC cadre deployment and the politicisation of the municipal administration along ANC factional lines.
Until the Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa, declares the national government’s intervention in Ditsobotla under Section 139(7), there is very little hope of any success to restore order and improve service delivery to residents.
Residents in Ditsobotla have been without water and electricity for weeks now. Instead of restoring these critical basic services, the politicised municipal workers are protecting their factional and selfish interests.
The DA again calls on all Ditsobotla residents to sign our petition to secure the national government’s intervention under Section 139(7) so that we can rescue the municipality from complete ruin. Sign the petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/put-ditsobotla-under-administration