KAROO NEWS - A heated exchange of messages on the local municipality's Customer Service Helpdesk WhatsApp group was widely shared on social media and even featured in a press statement issued by Vicky Knoetze (MPL), Shadow MEC for COGTA.
The messages began during the second budget meeting last Tuesday, which was boycotted by the DA councillors as they claimed it was illegal.
Xolile Galada, representing the ANC in Ward 4, told the DA's Glenda Mackelina (Ward 5) that there would be no service for DA councillors, as they did not support the budget.
"DA councillors were threatened and told that if they did not support the budget, the funds allocated to their wards would be diverted to ANC-led wards," said Knoetze in her statement.
The project at the centre of the exchange involves the upgrading of roads in Graaff-Reinet.
"The project was introduced in October 2019 - in prioritising streets to be upgraded, we tried not to attach politics and identified at least one street in each ward," explained Galada in a short interview with the Advertiser.
"However when we went to Ward 6, residents rioted, saying that the ward councillor had had no consultation with the community," he said, adding that projects were then started in Wards 3, 4, and 14.
All projects were put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic and according to Mackelina, the project in Ward 14 (a DA ward) was stopped and transferred to Ward 6.
"We owe the opposition nothing," said Galada. "DA councillors cannot fight the adoption of the budget and then go into meetings and demand work be done in their areas."
"I am tired of being bullied," responded Mackelina. "Kroonvale is the oldest suburb and we have no tarred roads, but the money always goes to the township areas."
Samantha Graham-Maré, MP, is angry at Galada's social media comments. "Not happy with just threatening the whole DA caucus and Ward 14 in particular with the withholding of services, in a heated exchange, he then accuses Councillor Mackelina of using drugs," she said. Galada accused Mackelina of buying drugs after she wrote he must "go back to school and learn what [white monopoly capitalism] means.
In the message above this, Galada wrote: "The budget will serve those that have people's [interest at heart], not white monopoly capitalism." Graham-Maré said she has asked that this matter be referred to the Speaker to be dealt with in terms of the Code of Conduct.
"No councillor has the right to threaten others or to cast aspersions on their character on a public platform."
'We bring you the latest Karoo news'
