30 Nov 2014

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has told Parliament that the special election of councillors is a function of applicants, and not partisan politics.

Mr Tsogwane said the Local Government Act 18 of 2012 stated that the council shall consist of both elected and nominated councillors. The act stipulated that the councils shall be constituted by the minister and that in this regard, the minister of local government was empowered to nominate councillors.

Mr Tsogwane said the intension was to have all skills represented, but it had not been possible to meet all the requisites at the end of every general election; hence some prerequisites came through special nomination.  “I met some of the requisites because, of the 73 males and 46 females, the substantive number of them is youth,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane said he did not take into consideration partisan affiliation that fellow oppositions MPs mentioned, such as cash benefits to the ruling party, neither was there any intention to outnumber the elected opposition councillors. 

He further said the law did not provide for the rationing of nominees and that the mover of the motion calling for the abolition of nominated councillors was not concerned about the act, but questioned the minister’s decisions. “I am wrongly accused and I do not know why strong words are leveled against me because I did not break any rule,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane further said he followed all the requisites being gender balance, youth, skills and qualifications, to add value or enhance council debates and decisions. ENDS