GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
The GOOD Party welcomes and applauds the leadership of Theewaterskloof Municipality for its proactive commitment to transparency and community inclusion through its Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). The Speaker of Council, GOOD Councillor Weldon Wells, has reaffirmed that MPAC meetings will be open to the public, and that notices of these important oversight sessions will be actively communicated to all residents. This is a commendable step in strengthening accountability and building trust between the municipality and the people it serves.
In a political climate where far too many municipalities shield executive actions from public scrutiny, Theewaterskloof is setting the right example. MPAC exists to interrogate how public money is spent, and to ensure that service delivery, procurement, and financial management are carried out with integrity and in the public interest. This is a right guaranteed under Section 160(7) of the Constitution and reiterated in the South African Local Government Association’s MPAC guide, which urges that MPAC meetings, as far as possible, be open to the public.
While other councils, like Cape Town and Johannesburg, continue to resist full transparency, often conducting MPAC task teams and investigations behind closed doors, Theewaterskloof’s approach reflects the best traditions of democratic governance. In Parliament and Provincial Legislatures, SCOPA hearings are open to the public. There is no legitimate reason for MPACs to operate differently.
We encourage all residents of Theewaterskloof to attend MPAC meetings, observe how their municipality is performing, and hold their leaders accountable. Public oversight isn’t just a right, it’s a responsibility. The more active and informed our communities are, the stronger our democracy becomes.
GOOD will continue to champion open, honest, and people-centred governance across all spheres of government and today, Theewaterskloof is showing what that can look like in practice.
GOOD Manifesto on Civic Engagement: Encouraging active community participation in governance.
Jester
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