DA Release on Schubart Park Disaster

Schubart Park Disaster

Press release: Councillor Natasha Michael, Chief Whip Democratic Alliance, Tshwane. 22 July 2008

The Democratic Alliance Tshwane Caucus reacted with horror at today’s disaster that occurred at Schuburt Park Building in Pretoria Central.

“It is the most horrific end to a terrible tale that has been going on for years, the ANC led council has been making promises to the residents of this building for years, but due to a complete lack of service delivery and complete insensitivity towards the residents, nothing was done. This building was a health and safety risk and has been for years, it is an utter disgrace that the municipality did not act immediately! This ANC council has no respect for the human dignity of these residents and should today hang their heads in shame. The DA has warned the council on various occasions that this building was a time bomb waiting to explode and today our worst fears were confirmed. Perhaps if the Mayor and her staff spent more time in the city that they are supposed to serve and less time in Austria watching the Euro 2008 finals whilst staying in luxury hotels, residents of the city would not have to live in inhumane conditions” Said DA Chief Whip in the council Natasha Michael.


Councillor Natasha Michael – 083 282 0668


The following note was delivered this morning to the mayor’s office:

URGENT


To: THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR; THE CHIEF WHIP; THE SPEAKER


BY EMAIL ONLY


22 JULY 2008


Dear Executive Mayor; Chief Whip and Speaker

Schuburt Park Disaster

Please urgently inform the Democratic Alliance Tshwane Metro Caucus as to what steps have been taken to house and feed the residents of Schuburt Park Building following their forced eviction this morning.

We also formally request an investigation into the cause of the forced evictions as well as an investigation as to why alternative accommodation was not made available to the above mentioned residents before the forced eviction was required.

We further request a report to be handed to the Democratic Alliance Tshwane Metro caucus in which the council’s detailed plans regarding the building and problems there associated are outlined, including all responses to complaints lodged regarding the building by the Democratic Alliance.

We trust that we can expect this information as a matter of urgency in light of the tragedy that occurred at Schuburt Park today!


Yours faithfully
_______________________________
Clr Natasha Michael
Chief Whip of the Official Opposition: Tshwane Metro Council ;
Deputy Provincial Chairperson: Democratic Alliance Gauteng

Important By-Election Victory for the DA in Pretoria

BETEKENISVOLLE VIR DA OORWINNING IN PRETORIA: TUSSENVERKIESING GEHOU OP 16 JULIE 2008

Mediaverklaring

Raadslid Jan van Zyl, Voorsitter van die Demokratiese Alliansie se Gauteng-Noord Streek, het hulle kandidaat, Mev Suzette Fourie, geluk gewens met haar verkiesing as DA raadslid vir Wyk 55 in die weste van Pretoria. Sy het die tussenverkiesing met 'n meerderheid van 143 stemme gewen waar die VF+, die ANC en die ACA ook kandidate gestel het.

Die Demokratiese Alliansie het ‘n verbete aanslag van die VF+ suksesvol afgeweer met hierdie oorwinning. Hierdie oorwinning bewys dat die DA se boodskap van goeie dienslewering tot kiesers oor kultuurgrense heen spreek. Die VF+ se retoriek wat swaar op minderheidsvrese steun, vind nêrens meer by denkende mense aanklank nie en behoort tot die verlede.

“Die DA is trots op sy lede en ondersteuners. Die VF+ het tevergeefs met sy hele arsenaal van oor die ganse land, insluitende sy top leierskap, op die verkiesing konsentreer. Die DA se boodskap van ‘n sterk opposisie teen die ANC het egter meer inslag by die kiersers gevind”, het Raadslid Van Zyl gesê.

Hy het bygevoeg dat “Etniese gebaseerde klein politiek, deurspek van venyn, nie meer tot die kiesers spreek nie. Die opsie van ‘n sterk opposisie gebaseer op getoetste beginsels wat die demokrasie tot die voordeel van alle gemeenskappe bestendig, geniet groter steun as uitgediende bangmaak stories. Dit is jammer dat die VF+ so 'n venynige aanval op die Leier van die DA, Helen Zille, geloods het. Mens moet seker maar met modder begin gooi waar jou beleid tekort skiet. Die inwoners van Wyk 55 kan egter verseker wees dat raadslid Fourie vir al die mense tot diens sal wees. Sy is 'n voorslag mens wat dinge kan raakvat! Met die oorwinning gister berei die party homself voor om saam met ander partye, geskoei op gedeelde waardes, die oorname van die Tswane Metroraad in die volgende plaaslike verkiesing in 2011, te verseker."

Uitgereik deur: Raadslid Jan van Zyl, Voorsitter DA Gauteng-Noord Streek
Tel 012 347-7673, Faks 012 347-9114 - Selfoon 082 467 7860 - e-pos: janvzyl@mweb.co.za


IMPORTANT VICTORY FOR DA IN PRETORIA: BY-ELECTION HELD ON 16 JULY 2008
Media statement
Councillor Jan van Zyl, Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance, Gauteng North Region, congratulated their candidate, Mrs Suzette Fourie, on her election as DA councillor for Ward 55 in the west of Pretoria. She won the by-election with a majority of 143 votes where the FF+, the ANC and the ACA also had candidates.
The Democratic Alliance successfully fought a tough onslaught from the FF+ with this victory. It proves that the message of the DA of excellent service delivery reaches voters of all cultural groups. The rhetoric of the FF+, which leans heavily on minority fears, does not find favour with thinking people, and belongs to the past.
"The DA is proud of his members and supporters. The FF+ concentrated with his whole arsenal from all over the country, including his top leadership corps, on this by-election, but without success. The message of the DA to form a strong opposition against the ANC found more favour with the electorate," councillor Van Zyl said.
Van Zyl added that "ethnic-based politics, full of venom, does not interest the electorate any longer. The option of a strong opposition based on tested principles which strengthens democracy in the interest of all communities, receives bigger support as obsolete and old-fashioned intimidating stories. It is a pity that the FF+ orchestrated such a vicious attack on the Leader of the DA, Helen Zille. I suppose one must start slinging mud where your policy is getting a bit thin. The residents of Ward 55 can be assured that councillor Fourie will be of service to all the people. She is a quality person who can make things happen! With this victory yesterday, the party is preparing to take over the leadership in the Tshwane Metropolitan Council with other parties with the same values, at the next municipal election in 2001."
Issued by: Councillor Jan van Zyl, Chairperson, DA Gauteng North Region
Tel 012 347-7673, Fax 012 347-9114 - Cell 082 467 7860 - e-mail: janvzyl@mweb.co.za

DA Tshwane Caucus to Propose Motion of No Confidence in Speaker

The following motion of no confidence will be submitted to the Council meeting to be held on Thursday 31 July 2008. The motion speaks for itself.

MOTION SUBMITTED IN TERMS OF SECTION 18 OF THE NEW RULES AND ORDERS OF THE CTMM

The Democratic Alliance (DA) refers to the following as failures by the Speaker of Council to perform his duties.

The DA refers to the Special Council Meeting of 29 May 2008 and:

1. The failure of the Speaker to commence the council meeting at the advertised time of 10:00 instead commencing the meeting at 10:20;

2. The late compilation of a speakers’ list for the meeting;

3. The failure of the Speaker to allow a full debate on the Draft Tshwane Integrated Development Plan (2006-2011);

4. The attempt by the Speaker to re-open debate on the Medium –Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework 2008/09 and the mishandling of the approval of this item in line with Rules and Orders 15 (1),(2) and (3) of the City of Tshwane;

5. The disallowance of motion 59 of 2008 contrary to Rule 19(1)(a) requesting that council meet ‘regularly each and every month…’ and which was not dealt with specifically in Part V Item 34 of the council agenda.

The DA further refers to the Office of the Speaker and:

1. Notes the failure of the Office of the Speaker to ensure that all council questions submitted in terms of Rule 10 of the Rules and Orders of the City of Tshwane are in fact answered, and are answered comprehensively and accurately ‘within seven days after the, meeting at which the questions were answered’;

2. Further notes the failure of the Office of the Speaker to dispose of all petitions submitted to Council ‘within 90 days of receipt thereof’ in line with Rule 16(2) of the Rules and Orders of the City of Tshwane;

3. The disallowance of several urgent motions proposed by the DA over the past two years;

4. The DA also notes the failure of the Office of the Speaker to ensure proper and meaningful public participation and the presence of senior council officials at all by-law/policy public participation process and presents evidence of this by referring for example, to the non-appearance of council officials at a four by-law public participation process which was to have been held in Centurion Council Chamber at 6:00pm on 5 June 2008;

5. The DA moreover notes for example, the failure of the Office of the Speaker to send a senior council official to the Centurion Council chamber on 24 June 2008, to conduct a workshop on the proposed ward committee by-law and the additional failure to supply on time councillors and others with the most up to date draft of this by-law.

The DA therefore has no confidence in the Speaker’s ability to impartially chair Council meetings and further deplores his lack of commitment to abiding by the letter and spirit of the Rules and Orders of Council and democratic practices of debate, and his inability to carry out his duties as head of the Office of the Speaker.

The DA therefore requests the Speaker of Council to be removed from office forthwith.

Proposer: Cllr C J Napier

Seconder: Cllr C Mc Donald

DA calls for the immediate re-opening of the Metro Police’s Drug Unit

Press release: Ward Councillor Karen Meyer, DA Spokesperson: Community Safety and Emergency Services, Tshwane. 11 July 2008

It is with shock that the DA learned about the closure of the Tshwane Metro Police’s Drug Unit this week.

This unit is according to the DA the most productive and effective unit within the Metro Police. Only this year the unit, with only five members, made 255 arrests – an outstanding achievement!

In Pretoria alone there were 8127 drug cases for 2007/08 which represents 25% of the total drug cases in Gauteng.

The fact that these members with their specialist background and training in line with international standards, are deployed to the Crime Prevention Unit without any consultation or prior knowledge, is unacceptable.

The Council is blaming the new ASD system, but the DA believes we were all mislead by the ANC because there was no indication regarding the closure of the Unit.

This unit would have launched a project in June to address heroin and cannabis problems at schools in Atteridgeville where up to 25 % (2500) of the learners are already addicted to drugs. Due to insufficient resources the project was cancelled that compelled the learners to hold a march on the 20th of June where the mayor was present.
We are clearly faced with a crisis that cannot be ignored. Even more shocking is the ANC’s and the Metro Council’s inability to give guidance and vision in this regard.

Less than two months ago the Council approved an amendment by the DA that the Metro Police purchase effective drug tests and report back on the success to Council within six months. This and the fact that two members of the drug unit has just returned from a course presented by the French government, underline the fact that the Council seriously lacks sufficient planning.

The DA cannot allow that this Division close its doors due to unprofessional management. The DA will therefore submit a motion at this month’s Council meeting insisting on the re-opening of the Unit.

Councillor Karen Meyer
DA Spokesperson: Community Safety and Emergency Services
Tshwane Metro Council
082 373 7662

DA eis die onmiddelike heropening van die Tshwane Metropolisie se dwelm eenheid!

Persverklaring: Wyksraadslid Karen Meyer, DA Woordvoerder: Gemeenskapsveiligheid en Nooddienste, Tshwane. 11 Julie 2008

Die DA is uiters geskok met die nuus dat die Tshwane Metropolisie Dwelmeenheid se deure hierdie week gesluit is.

Hierdie divisie is volgens die DA die produktiefste en mees effektiefste eenheid binne die Metropolisie. Hierdie eenheid, met slegs vyf lede, het hierdie jaar reeds 255 arrestasie gemaak, ‘n ongelooflike prestasie.

Slegs in Pretoria alleen wys ‘n totaal van 8 127 dwelmsake vir die 2007/08 jaar wat 25% van Gauteng se totaal is. In die laaste jaar alleen is ‘n toename van 85% in Gauteng aangeteken.

Die feit dat hierdie lede met hul spesialiteitsagtergrond en opleiding van internasionale standaarde nou opgedeel en herontplooi is na die Misdaadvoorkomings eenheid sonder enige konsultasie of vooraf kennis, is eenvoudig onaanvaarbaar! Die nuwe ASD sisteem kry volgens die raad amptelik die skuld, maar die DA glo ons is almal mislei deur die ANC aangesien daar geen aanduiding was dat hierdie eenheid sou sluit nie!

Hierdie eenheid sou ‘n projek in Junie geloods het om die heroien en dagga probleem by skole in Atteridgeville aan te spreek waar tot 20% (2 500) van die leerlinge reeds verslaaf is aan dwelms. As gevolg van ‘n tekort aan hulpbronne moes die projek gekanselleer word wat die skoolkinders genoop het om ‘n optog op 20 Junie te hou waar die Burgemeester teenwoordig was.

Ons sit met ‘n ernstige krisis wat nie geignoreer kan word nie. Meer skokkend egter is die ANC en Tshwane Metroraad se onvermoë om die nodige leiding en die nodige visie te gee.

Die raad het minder as twee maande gelede ‘n amendament van die DA goedgekeur dat die Metropolisie effektiewe dwelmtoetse moet aankoop en die sukses daarvan binne ses maande aan die raad rapporteer. Dit en die feit dat twee van die dwelmeenheid se lede so pas terug is van ‘n dwelmkursus wat die Franse regering aangebied het, wys dat die raad self nie behoorlike beplanning aan die dag lê nie!

Die DA kan nie toelaat dat hierdie divisie sy deure sluit as gevolg van onprofessionele bestuur nie en sal by hierdie maand se raadsvergadering ‘n mosie indien waarop ons gaan aandring op die heroopmaak van hierdie eenheid!

Raadslid Karen Meyer
DA Woordvoerder: Gemeenskapsveiligheid en Nooddienste
Tshwane Metroraad
Kontaknommer: 082 373 7662