Statement by Ald Cilliers Brink – DA Tshwane Mayoral Candidate:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes Tshwane’s move to finally move ahead with blacklisting tenderpreneur, Edwin Sodi.
It must be said though, that this only happened due to sustained pressure by the DA and reporting by the media. This alone compelled Tshwane to move on the Edwin Sodi blacklisting application. Nothing more, and nothing less.
The fact that Tshwane was able to submit the blacklisting application in the week that the Sunday Times reported on a string of excuses relating to why this couldn’t be done, shows how thin these excuses actually were.
On Monday, the DA briefed our attorneys to do a trace on Sodi and his associates to bust the excuse that Tshwane could not find these people in order to give them notice of a blacklisting application, which would kickstart the process.
Throughout the week, the media covered this move extensively, placing further pressure on Mayor Nasiphi Moya.
By Thursday, the same day that the AG came out with a damning report against the City, Tshwane announced that the blacklisting application had miraculously been submitted after more than a year of inexplicable delays.
However, considering the time that had elapsed while the City did nothing, their sudden ability to find Sodi following public outcry, and the announcement of that move on the day that the Auditor General made it clear that Tshwane is wasting money, and moving backwards on most key metrics.
The DA is only left to contend that this simply would not have happened without external pressure, and the opportunity to try and cover up their own financial blunders.
Mad Kid
Laduma! – he scores! [laa-doo-maa] This term is usually screamed out when a soccer team scores a goal. Extend any of the syllables for full effect.Example: “Laaaaaaduuuuumaaaa!”
Moonflower
Fun South African Fact: The waters surrounding the 2,500km long coastline are teeming with life. You’ll find great white sharks, African penguins, dolphins and much much more in South Africa’s oceans. Many travellers visit the coast to watch the annual whale migrations. In Hermanus, in the Western Cape, you can see hundreds of whales from June to late November. Simon’s Town, another coastal Western Cape town, is home to Boulder’s Beach. Here you can swim alongside colonies of African Penguins!