Herron: 'DA puts power before accountability'

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Good Secretary-General Brett Herron has lashed out at the DA in general and against the ruling DA coalition in Oudtshoorn specifically, saying the grip on power in Oudtshoorn is greater priority to the DA than accountability.

Herron's strongly worded statement comes in the wake of Oudtshoorn's DA Mayor Chris Macpherson defending the non-action against the DA's embattled coalition partner, Deputy Mayor Mlandeli Nyuka of Suid-Kaap Saamstaan, who is in jail facing serious charges.

Nyuka was arrested on 2 October and has been languishing in jail ever since he was refused bail in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate's Court on 1 November. His arrest followed charges laid against him by a female employee.

Oudtshoorn Courant is not allowed to divulge the nature of Nyuka's alleged crime/s until he has pleaded. Nyuka is due back in court on Tuesday 22 November when a date will be set for his appearance in the regional court.

In a media statement on 2 November, Macpherson pointed out that the Independent Electoral Commission makes it very clear that a councillor who faces a charge can only be removed if convicted of a crime and sentenced to at least two years direct imprisonment.

He also defended the decision not to launch an internal investigation, saying no charges have been laid with the municipal manager or with himself and therefore the municipality does not have grounds for an investigation.

Macpherson said the law must run its course.

Herron doesn't agree with this and says as the balance of power in Oudtshoorn is fragile, the DA-led council won't act against Nyuka, who continues to receive his salary, for it may lead to the DA losing power in the town.

"When coalition partners feel obliged to bypass their values and principles in order to cling to power, they take on the values and principles of the lowest common denominator – with all the implications for service delivery and governance that brings," Herron says.

Brett Herron. Photo: Facebook

Mayor's response
In reaction to the statement by Good, Macpherson's media and communication officer Hannes Visser said the facts surrounding the position of the deputy mayor's arrest and ongoing court case have been dealt with numerous times.

Visser said the fact that he remains the deputy mayor and receives his remuneration is not because of any favours as stated by Good, but are Nyuka's right as an elected official - this applies to all councillors.

He said as far as allegations regarding the lack of an internal investigation or interventions by Council are concerned, it needs to be stated once again that to date no charge has been laid with the speaker or the municipal manager.

Visser stated that Herron's allegation that "in Oudtshoorn the minion's heads are buried in the sand", is outrageous. "This is nothing less than misusing an ongoing judicial process to promote a political agenda by Good."

Suid-Kaap Saamstaan pending court case
Suid-Kaap Saamstaan members are disputing Nyuka's party membership and has taken the issue to court. On 14 October Saamstaan's court challenge against Nyuka was postponed to 23 November.

Should Nyuka lose his party membership, he will lose his seat in council and the DA may well lose Saamstaan as coalition partner.

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