Pretoria – The meeting between the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and residents of Bekkersdal was adjourned on Thursday following fresh demands by the Greater Westonaria Concerned Residents Association (GWCRA).
The meeting was part of a follow up to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli’s announcement last November to commission an independent investigation by the Auditor-General.
Yesterday’s meeting was called to discuss the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the comprehensive forensic investigation into allegations of maladministration of the Westonaria Local Municipality and the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Project.
The terms of reference were to deal with: the scope of the investigation, the investigating authority, the deliverables of the investigation, stakeholder engagement and the timeframes.
The meeting was also meant to update the GWCRA about progress in the process towards amalgamation of Westonaria and Randfontein Local Municipalities, as per the decision of the Municipal Demarcation Board.
However, these matters were not discussed, as the GWCRA put new demands as pre-conditions to engage in any discussion.
Their demands included dropping criminal charges against their members, who were involved in public violence and destruction to property; stopping the municipality from issuing bursaries and making further appointments of new employees.
COGTA Director-General Vusi Madonsela said: “In order to move forward with the resolution of the Bekkersdal matter, we must honestly and holistically engage without pushing for things that will only impede the process.
“As government, we are ready with the terms of reference and we were hoping that after [Thursday’s] consultation and engagement, that the investigation would commence immediately.
“The request to drop charges is outside of this process and resides with the police, which is another agency of government.”
The terms of reference document was given to the GWCRA and they requested that the department consider their requests.
The GWCRA and the department agreed to adjourn the meeting, pending further engagements on these requests. The meeting will sit again in the next few days.
Acting Head of Department Itumeleng Mokate said: “While we are disappointed about the delay in the process, we remain committed to the process of investigating the matter and bringing finality to the challenges of Bekkersdal. We have agreed with community leaders to schedule another meeting in the next few days.”
The association also raised an objection to the approved merger between Westonaria and Randfontein Local Municipalities. However, this process was concluded by the Municipal Demarcation Board and all interested parties were given opportunity to make submissions. - SAnews.gov.za
