Picture: (DA Provincial leader, Joel McGluwa)
By REGINALD KANYANE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West is furious after the ‘Presidency’s office denied them access to the Inter-Ministerial Task Team report on the North West. However, the DA Provincial leader, Joe McGluwa said they will appeal the decision.
“It is shocking how the African National Congress (ANC) denies communities the right to know how the problems within North West will be fixed. The report is in the public’s interest as it has a direct impact on their daily lives. It is important that our communities have access to all the findings by the IMTT.
“A month ago, we lodged a Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000 (PAIA) application to ensure that the people of the North West gain access to the IMTT report. The Deputy Information Officer in the Presidency, Lusanda Mxenge informed us of the decision to keep the report a secret,” McGluwa said.
He further said the decision by The Presidency to keep the IMTT’s report under wraps is in contradiction with the democratic principles of accountability and transparency. McGluwa added that the IMTT has, to date, done nothing to bring order to the province and North West will remain in shambles while they govern here.
“The people of the North West have been caught in the middle of an ANC factional battle, where the casualties are the people and service delivery. The fact that the North West is still without an elected Premier shows that South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa lacks the political backing and will to put the people of the province first.
“As we have long said, the IMTT along with the Section 100 intervention are a smokescreen used to cover up the fact that Ramaphosa clearly has no political will to deal with the deep-rooted problems here and he clearly does not want to act against Supra Mahumapelo and his cadres,” he said.
McGluwa added that while they play cat and mouse, it is the people who ultimately suffer. He said the communities need action that will bring order and change the lives of the people for the better.
“The ANC has failed the people of the North West and we are sceptical that the ANC will ever be able to put the people first and turn the province around. We will not be discouraged by their refusal to make the report public and will consider all avenues to get the truth out in the open.
The North West needs the kind of change that only a DA-led government can bring,” he said.
However, Mxenge said: “I wish to bring to your attention the provisions of section 12 of PAIA which reads as follows. This ACT does not apply to a record, (a) of the Cabinet and its Committees. I have considered the aforementioned request and made the decision to refuse the access to the record.
“Kindly be advised that you have the right to appeal against the refusal for access in terms of section 74 of PAIA within the prescribed period.”
The Guardian 