Deputy Speaker, I want to respond to the points made about the Mogalakwena Municipality and certain allegations in that regard.
Firstly, we have been in touch with the Limpopo Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs; secondly, the Mogalakwena Municipality, for some time - as you know from your previous capacity - has been a very unstable area; thirdly, ... [Interjections.] Why don't you listen to the facts first, then you can respond? Listen to the facts. [Interjections.] I heard yours so listen to mine now.
Deputy Speaker, the third point is that this municipality is under the administration of the province in terms of section 139(1)(b), however, this intervention is incomplete because it has been obstructed, in particular by the municipal manager, a Mr Kekana, who has not allowed the administrator that the province has deployed to gain entry to the municipal offices.
The ANC has expelled 22 councillors of this municipality and these councillors are contesting that expulsion through court proceedings. However, as far as the ANC is concerned, they are expelled and they are no longer councillors. The vacancies have been declared and registration for by-elections closed yesterday. By-elections will take place in 13 wards on 26 November 2014.
Let me return to the points made about the role of the police and certain events during the last day or two. Nine councillors were prevented by the 22 expelled councillors from entering the municipal premises.
The municipal manager closed the offices over the last day or two and sent workers home. The municipal manager is refusing to convene council meetings to be held to allow the election of a new Speaker, because it is the Speaker who has a crucial role to play in enabling this process to move further.
Furthermore, my staff has been in touch with Gen Mangena and Gen Mbalathi, who are senior police officers in the province. Both of them deny that any documents were removed and taken to the ANC offices. [Interjections.]
Let me add, I have a letter here addressed to the MEC and various councillors by the municipal manager in which he states, and I quote:
As you are aware, the status of the 23 councillor's expulsion by the ANC is currently the subject matter of a review application, which is pending in the High Court.
He goes on to say -
Your inference that the municipality does not have a mayor, a Speaker or an executive committee is therefore misplaced. We have noted that the names of the nine councillors who have purportedly been sworn in, and they have purportedly been sworn in on 29 October, appear amongst the list in your letter. We have instructed our attorneys to proceed with urgent applications in the High Court interdicting the nine persons to act as councillors. I cannot therefore agree to your request. In any event, the Speaker is the only person authorised by law to convene the council meeting.
So there is a very cynical set of circumstances here. We will not allow this lawlessness to continue. We will be in touch with the province and in the next day or two we will come back to the House and report on what our actions will be. Thank you.