NORTH West provincial legislature Chief Whip, Hoffman Galeng lambasted the way in manner EFF provincial chairperson, Betty Diale conducted herself during the legislative sitting on Tuesday.

Diale rose on a point of order during a house sitting where members of all political parties in the legislature were given a platform to debate on the Women’s Month in the legislature chamber.

She was tricked by Portfolio committee member statement, Motlalepula Rosho when she said ANC won all local municipalities in the province including Rustenburg.

However, Diale did not leave that lying down and said ANC won Rustenburg local municipality after possibly bribing small parties to get their votes.

“ANC did not win Rustenburg local municipality on its own. They needed assistance of smaller parties to win. There was a missing R3m from Rustenburg local municipality, and it was possibly used to bribe people,” Diale said.

However, chair of chairs, Itumeleng Mosala who was the presiding officer requested Diale to retract her statement or provide substantial evidence to support her derogatory statement after portfolio committee member, Raymond Elisha asked Diale to retrieve her statement.

“I am certain about what I said and I cannot degrade myself by making false statement. I will bring prove in the next sitting to support my statement,” Diale said.

ANC North West provincial legislature provincial chief whip, Hoffman Galeng said if a member has evidence in whatever she/he said, they will submit that as a notice of motion in line with the legislative rules.

“It is tantamount for political leaders to mislead the house without substantial evidence. I am very pleased that Diale said she does have evidence that the ANC has bribed people to the tune of R3m.

“It will be very much interesting to see that evidence and that will indicate who bribed who. It will also be surprising for Diale to have that kind of evidence, but still did not take that evidence to the relevant law enforcement authorities,” Galeng said.

He added that bribery is regarded as a criminal offence. Galeng also said Diale was supposed to lay criminal charges against those who did that as it has been three weeks since the elections.

“We will further advice her to lay charges against the perpetrator/s. Her statement leaves many questions than answers because she is a lawyer by profession, but decided to sit on evidence like this.

“The public has now developed a keen interest on the matter as she alleged that the ANC bribed people to win Rustenburg local municipality. We will also take serious steps as the ruling party because the statement is serious allegations,” he said.

North West provincial legislature provincial chair of chairs, Itumeleng Mosala said necessary procedures will be followed to address the matter.

“We will follow the legislative process and let the law takes it course. The matter will be adjourned and allow the EFF provincial chairperson, Betty Diale to provide evidence on the matter,” Mosala said.

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