Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Inge Wilken
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana strongly rejects the ANC’s reckless decision to approve the use of the Council’s General Vote Budget to fund the Speaker, Cllr. SL Mondlane-Ngwenya, and another councillor’s overseas trip to Dakar, Senegal, for the Pan-African Local Leadership Excellence Awards in November 2025.
While the DA acknowledges the Speaker’s nomination, we will not support the diversion of public funds for international travel at a time when Matlosana is in deep financial distress. The municipality is struggling to pay creditors, settle mounting debt, and restore even the most basic services to residents.
The Excellence Awards, organised by IOPD Africa in partnership with the African Union Commission, aim to recognise innovation in local governance. The Speaker has been shortlisted in the category of Inclusion, Equality, and Equity. However, prestige cannot take priority over service delivery. Recognition of good practice must be earned through tangible improvements in residents’ daily lives, not celebrated with taxpayer-funded trips abroad.
If the Speaker wishes to attend, it must be at her own expense or through external sponsorship and not through public funds.
The DA will continue to fight for prudent, service-driven spending in Matlosana. Our residents deserve to see their hard-earned money invested in restoring water, electricity, and infrastructure, not in overseas excursions for ANC politicians.