PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou mayor Peter Lobese has expressed his disappointment in several Western Cape MECs after they visited various communities in response to protests in Plettenberg Bay without informing the Bitou council, and then failed to address the communities at the centre of recent housing riots.
He has labelled the visits as a possible “set-up for political campaigning” for the upcoming provincial and national elections next year.
Lobese said in a statement he was disappointed with the conduct of community safety MEC Dan Plato, human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela and transport and public works MEC Donald Grant.
'No word of their visits'
He added the trio had visited several communities in Bitou over the past few days, “without the courtesy of informing the mayor or council of their visits”.
This transpired, Lobese said, despite written invitations he sent for them to come and address community the demands of Qolweni and Kurland Village residents for housing, land, clinics, police stations and schools.
“Copies of the memorandum of demands of Kurland Village were also attached to the invitations,” said municipal spokesperson Manfred van Rooyen.
'Violation of protocols'
Van Rooyen added that the MECs were aware that the issues fell outside the scope of the mandate of the municipality. “Hence the urgent invitations and their urgent inputs could have assisted to bring peace and stability to the municipality and averted the protests the Bitou community had to endure last week. The conduct of the ministers is therefore in serious violation of applicable protocols in terms of the system of intergovernmental relations,” Van Rooyen said.
Lobese said they don't know what the MECs said during their visits and that it is a serious concern for the council as to what messages, pronouncements or undertakings were given to the communities.
'Political campaigning'
He added that he is “seriously concerned” that these “unofficial visits” are not assisting the council in addressing “the valid and justifiable concerns and demands of the communities”. He said he suspects that this might be a “set-up or political campaigning” for the elections next year rather than engagements to understand and support the genuine efforts of the municipality. The mayor also questioned why the MECs failed to meet with the two affected communities of Kurland and Qolweni, while they were in Bitou over the past few days.
Lobese, however, welcomed an undertaking by national Human Settlements minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo to visit Bitou, on 5 July.
National minister to visit
The mayor invited the national minister following demands by communities for land and housing, during recent protests in Kurland Village and Qolweni. The purpose of the minister’s visit is to gain insight into the nature of the challenges of housing within the greater Plettenberg Bay area as well as to contribute to a resolution of related challenges.
Lobese also expects visits by other national ministries, including Police, Rural Development and Land Reform and Basic Education.
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