Political parties criticise CoCT's decision to move first council meeting for 2025, online

Political parties within the City of Cape Town has criticised the municipality’s decision to move the first council meeting for 2025 to an online platform.

COURTESY: X - @geordinhl

Speaker Felicity Purchase cited planned disruptions for the virtual meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday. The Good Party slammed the move, accusing the City of trying to protect Safety and Security MMC JP Smith and Energy MMC Xanthea Limberg.

On Friday, police raided Smith’s and Limberg’s offices due to a probe into alleged tender fraud in the city’s construction sector.

The GOOD Party, believes the virtual meeting is an attempt to shield the MMCs from public scrutiny.

‘’The Speaker is responsible to the people of Cape Town but she has chosen to prioritise the will of her political party the DA. The GOOD Party maintains that Smith and Limberg should step down while the investigation unfolds. Their continued presence could impede the investigation or at least give the perception of being in a position to impede,’’ said Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General.

‘’The Good Party is however happy with the confirmation received from Speaker Purchase that the legal fees of those involved will not and have not been covered by the City. The provision for City-funded legal representation is only intended for cases arising out of an office bearer or staff member’s official duties. Any tender corruption, and the obstruction of justice, conduct does not constitute “official duties”,’’ he added.

The National Coloured Congress (NCC) says moving the meeting online, 'breaks promises.'

''The move to a virtual format only breaks promises but also undermines the trust between the Council and the constituents it serves. In-person meetings are essential for accountability, transparency, and ensuring that councillors and the public have a fair opportunity to engage,'' said Anastasia Davids, NCC Party Whip.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Cape Metro echoed the party’s sentiments

‘’It is deeply troubling that the DA’s Speaker is using her position to protect a corrupt public representative. The decision to conduct the meeting virtually is an abuse of power, granting the Speaker undue control over the proceedings. It will give her the ability to silence opposition and prevent meaningful participation by easily removing people from the virtual platform or ignoring those raising concerns. This move is nothing short of an attempt to stifle democratic engagement, and it is evident that this is a tactic to protect JP Smith whose office was raided by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday,’’ said Ntsikelelo Tyandela, EFF Regional Chairperson.

 

EFF Cape Metro Statement on the City of Cape Town Speaker Felicia Purchase’s Decision to Move the In-Person Council Meeting to Virtual to Protect JP Smith pic.twitter.com/RXroGQgeAn

— EFF_Cape_Metro (@EFF_Cape_Metro) January 27, 2025

Done By: Mitchum George