Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by CJ Steyl MPL.
The DA in North West condemns the ANC factional violence that took place under the cover of darkness at the Ditsobotla municipal offices in Lichtenburg in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It is alleged that shots were fired, injuring one individual, in a standoff at around 04:00 on Sunday morning between the legitimately appointed municipal security company, Eagle Springbok Security, and the private security, Lifeways Security, of the illegitimate Municipal Manager pretender, Olaotswe Bojosinyane.
This is the second shoot-out following an incident in March, earlier this year, where two individuals were shot and injured as Mr Bojosinyane attempted to take control of the municipal building in scenes reminiscent of a coup d’état.
In March, the DA wrote the both the MEC for Community Safety, Wessels Morweng, and the North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major-General Patrick Asaneng, requesting the permanent employment of the public order police unit to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality to restore and maintain order.
Regrettably, our letter went unanswered and, sadly, public order policing has not been deployed.
Today, the DA has written to the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, expressing our displeasure with the unprofessional way Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major-General Patrick Asaneng, has engaged with our request and that he immediately mobilise SAPS Public Order Policing Units from outside the North West province to secure the Ditsobotla municipal building. (See letter here)
The deployment of police to secure the Ditsobotla municipal offices, a critical local state asset, is now immediately necessary, since the continued standoff between the two ANC factions, to which these two security companies appear to have aligned with, is set to deteriorate into further violence that may end in the loss of life.
Despite a High Court order rejecting the legitimacy of the ANC/EFF faction led by Cllr Molefe Morutse (ANC), Cllr Manana Bogatsu (EFF) and Olaotswe Bojosinyane and a Supreme Court of Appeal rejection to overturn the order of the High Court, it appears that these pretenders will stop at nothing to take control of the ailing municipality.
It is regrettable that private security companies have now allegedly aligned themselves with warring ANC factions in Ditsobotla, perhaps in a bid to secure and maintain long-standing and lucrative contracts. Much like municipal officials have aligned themselves with warring ANC factions, all while residents continue to endure life without water and electricity supply.
Under no circumstances can Ditsobotla residents continue to live under a general state of lawlessness. Law, order and service delivery must be restored.
The DA once again wrote to the Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa, bringing recent developments to his attention and urging him that Ditsobotla must be placed under Section 139(7) national government administration sooner, rather than later. (See letter here)
We reiterate our call to Ditsobotla residents to sign our petition to secure the national government’s intervention so that we can rescue the municipality from complete ruin. Sign the petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/put-ditsobotla-under-administration