Statement by Cllr Anathi Majeke – DA Buffalo City Caucus Chief Whip:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Buffalo City welcomes the implementation of live-streamed council meetings, a milestone for public accountability that is the direct result of the DA’s relentless political pressure and unwavering oversight.
For years, the residents of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) have been kept in the dark regarding the inner workings of the council. The move to digitise these proceedings marks a significant shift, ensuring that the executive is finally answerable to the people in real-time.
This achievement is the culmination of a sustained campaign by the DA. Our victory for the residents was achieved through a rigorous trail of formal letters and motions submitted to the Speaker’s office, demanding that BCMM adhere to the constitutional principles of transparency. We applied pressure by refusing to allow the matter to be removed from the agenda, despite repeated delays and administrative excuses.
In October last year we also issued an urgent demand to Municipal Manager for the immediate implementation of live video and/or audio streaming for all Council meetings.
The DA believes that by making council proceedings accessible via live stream, we are ensuring that:
- Elected officials are held to a higher standard of conduct and debate.
- Voters can see firsthand who is championing their interests and who is obstructing progress.
- Decision-making regarding service delivery, budgets, and municipal spending is now subject transparently done in the public.
While we celebrate this victory for democracy, the DA will remain vigilant. We will continue to monitor these broadcasts to ensure they remain uninterrupted and that the public is never again locked out of the democratic process.
The residents of Buffalo City deserve a transparent government that delivers services and puts their needs first. The DA remains the only party consistently fighting to bring government closer to the people.