MOSSEL BAY NEWS - While the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is thankful that the Mossel Bay Municipality established a Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), the party expressed its disappointment that only the Democratic Alliance and African National Congress will form part of the committee.
ACDP councillor Jeanette Gouws said in a press release this is contrary to Section 160 Part 8(a) of the Constitution of South Africa. For that reason, she said, the ACDP cannot be part of MPAC.
"The ACDP, along with other opposition parties in council have been arguing for the establishment of an MPAC rather than the Oversight Committee which was tasked with performing oversight over the DA-governed municipality.
"The MPAC committee is supposed to have a wider term of reference, a framework, with regard to keeping the administration and political government accountable and transparent," Gouws said.
"The Mossel Bay Municipality was one of a very few municipalities that only had an Oversight Committee, this despite the encouragement of the Western Cape Government and SALGA that an MPAC be established.
"It is, however, most unfortunate that the DA seems to be unaware of the full function and the aim of such a committee," Gouws said.
"Only two parties will form part of the committee of seven members. This is such a pity as the role of the committee is to act as a watchdog over all matters of the municipality and the government of the leading political party.
"In a council where five political parties have representation this is in effect frustrating full oversight and the decision of several thousand voters in the Mossel Bay district who trusted specific parties representatives to ensure clean governance is upheld.
"This is contrary to Section 160 part 8 (a) which states that members of a municipal council are entitled to participate in its proceedings and committees in a manner that allows parties reflected within the council to be fairly represented.
"This also defeats the true meaning of democracy which in essence was meant to be 'the many' shall govern as opposed to the common belief that 'the majority' shall govern. This is particularly the idea central to the establishment and the working of an MPAC.
"The aim of an MPAC is not to align the committee according to proportional representation but to rather draw in all parties in an effective and cooperative oversight role where all parties work together."
Gouws said that during her tenure as the chair of the Oversight Committee she continuously stressed the importance of this cooperative attitude and reminded councillors that no one of the members were in opposition to each other in such committees.
The idea of such committees is that representatives from all represented parties reach consensus on matters discussed.
"The DA has however arranged the committee giving themselves a majority of representation. This shows the true intent of the DA and is indicative of a premeditated intention to force a vote on issues which should only be decided on conscience and whether a matter is right or wrong."
Gouws said she would not serve on the MPAC, as the ACDP believes it is not legitimate. She thanked all the councillors that served with her on the Oversight Committee for their input and cooperation throughout the term of the Oversight Committee.
She also thanks, in particular, the municipal manager and the administration for their assistance and guidance in matters relating to the success of the Oversight Committee.
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