George Building Collapse: Planning MMC Banned From Speaking

But when the Council meets to table the first of two (technical and legal) investigations into the disaster tomorrow – confidentially, without media present – the DA caucus in the coalition has decided that it is too risky to allow Kyd to speak. The only members of the coalition allowed to speak are the mayor and deputy mayor, both representing the DA.

Considering that the Premier (also DA) has already conducted an investigation, but refused to release it, or even its essential findings, a clear pattern emerges that the people of the Western Cape – including the families of the victims, and the injured – are deliberately being kept in the dark.

Chantelle has been a loyal and disciplined member and defender of the coalition. We do not enter coalitions and then look for opportunities to stab our colleagues in the back. Her only ‘crime’ has been her resolve that the truth of what led to the ghastly event a year ago should not be hidden from the people. When I attempted to address the matter with the DA provincial leadership yesterday, they said Kyd had agreed not to speak, which is not the truth. It is very difficult to conduct substantive negotiations with liars.

Our councillors do not enter coalitions in order to occupy well-paid positions. It is fundamentally disrespectful, contemptuous even, to prevent the MMC for Planning from speaking about a planning issue in which she has been centrally involved.

The DA wants its coalition partners to be hand-maidens. The GOOD Party lauds Kyd for having the integrity and courage of her convictions to tender her resignation as MMC.

If she is unable to truly serve the community inside the Mayoral Committee, she and her GOOD councillor colleagues will continue working from outside the Mayoral Committee.

We have formally notified the DA of our exit from the coalition.

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