Bekkersdal debate degenerates into mudslinging match
by Olebogeng Molatlhwa,
2013-11-04 19:58:41.0
A SPECIAL debate in the Gauteng legislature on Monday on the recent outbreak of violent service-delivery protests in Bekkersdal degenerated into a racially charged mudslinging match in which the African National Congress (ANC) pulled no punches.
Tensions between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) overshadowed what should have been a forum to find solutions to the impasse reached in the West Rand township.
Residents took to the streets two weeks ago, demanding the Westonaria local municipality be placed under administration.
However, local government MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said she had not received "tangible proof" prompting her to place Westonaria under section-139 administration, adding, however, that the municipality was "executing its executive obligations".
But ANC Gauteng chief whip Brian Hlongwa raised questions on the financial viability of Westonaria because of the large numbers of unemployed people who resided there.
Much of Monday’s debate — which was allotted only 15 minutes on the legislature’s schedule — centred on the ANC accusing the DA, and white South Africans by extension, of having caused "the mess" in Bekkersdal and benefited from apartheid all the while.
In a fiery address, economic development MEC Mxolisi Xayiya fired the first salvo, accusing DA members of having enjoyed the spoils of what he said was widespread "looting" of South Africa’s mining assets while mine workers were left to endure poor working conditions underground.
Mr Xayiya said the ANC was protecting white South Africans from facing the anger of their black counterparts once the latter discovered the true cause of their economic hardship.
"The primary beneficiaries of the looting (of South African mining assets) are found in Houghton (the affluent northern Johannesburg suburb), where you guys (DA members) are resident," he said to rousing applause from ANC caucus members.
"There was something called Teba (The Employment Bureau of Africa, established in 1902 to provide labour recruitment services to the Southern African mining sector) where (black) people were taken to the mines and when they fell sick, they were dumped out of there. We are cleaning (up) your mess. We are the ones who are trying to save you because when our children understand the real cause, some of you will be flying out (of the country)."
Another ANC politician, Sipho Makama, strongly suggested that DA members had channelled millions, and potentially billions, in development funds from mining proceeds into trust accounts.
"Immediately after the end of apartheid, certain things were done which are not spoken about," he said. "Trust accounts were opened for that money to be channelled. The municipalities did not get that money. We must talk about these things before we point fingers that the ANC is doing nothing.
"I’m raising this thing so that an investigation is done to find out where this money is going to. You will find that, and I’m not saying it is like that, members of the DA are involved. For 19 years, it has not been accounted for, this money that is coming from the mines. They (the DA) are making noise but they must talk about how that money is utilised."
The DA’s Kate Lorimer accused the ANC of not fulfilling its promises.
She said former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa had said in 2004 that R1.2bn would go to an urban renewal programme in Bekkersdal.
"Now, in this debate, the MEC for local government says, ‘Oh no no no no, we didn’t mean R1.2bn would be allocated Then why promise it in the first place? Once again, promises were made and promises were broken by the ANC," she said.
Premier Nomvula Mokonyane denied the R1.2bn had been budgeted and voted for in the legislature.
Pointing to Cape Town’s version of the Bus Rapid Transit system, called MyCiTi, which apparently did not reach any of the city’s townships, Ms Mokonyane said: "The intention of the DA in Western Cape is to ensure that white supremacy is protected."
Gauteng local government MEC Ntombi Mekgwe. Picture: SOWETAN
A SPECIAL debate in the Gauteng legislature on Monday on the recent outbreak of violent service-delivery protests in Bekkersdal degenerated into a racially charged mudslinging match in which the African National Congress (ANC) pulled no punches.
Tensions between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) overshadowed what should have been a forum to find solutions to the impasse reached in the West Rand township.
Residents took to the streets two weeks ago, demanding the Westonaria local municipality be placed under administration.
However, local government MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said she had not received "tangible proof" prompting her to place Westonaria under section-139 administration, adding, however, that the municipality was "executing its executive obligations".
But ANC Gauteng chief whip Brian Hlongwa raised questions on the financial viability of Westonaria because of the large numbers of unemployed people who resided there.
Much of Monday’s debate — which was allotted only 15 minutes on the legislature’s schedule — centred on the ANC accusing the DA, and white South Africans by extension, of having caused "the mess" in Bekkersdal and benefited from apartheid all the while.
In a fiery address, economic development MEC Mxolisi Xayiya fired the first salvo, accusing DA members of having enjoyed the spoils of what he said was widespread "looting" of South Africa’s mining assets while mine workers were left to endure poor working conditions underground.
Mr Xayiya said the ANC was protecting white South Africans from facing the anger of their black counterparts once the latter discovered the true cause of their economic hardship.
"The primary beneficiaries of the looting (of South African mining assets) are found in Houghton (the affluent northern Johannesburg suburb), where you guys (DA members) are resident," he said to rousing applause from ANC caucus members.
"There was something called Teba (The Employment Bureau of Africa, established in 1902 to provide labour recruitment services to the Southern African mining sector) where (black) people were taken to the mines and when they fell sick, they were dumped out of there. We are cleaning (up) your mess. We are the ones who are trying to save you because when our children understand the real cause, some of you will be flying out (of the country)."
Another ANC politician, Sipho Makama, strongly suggested that DA members had channelled millions, and potentially billions, in development funds from mining proceeds into trust accounts.
"Immediately after the end of apartheid, certain things were done which are not spoken about," he said. "Trust accounts were opened for that money to be channelled. The municipalities did not get that money. We must talk about these things before we point fingers that the ANC is doing nothing.
"I’m raising this thing so that an investigation is done to find out where this money is going to. You will find that, and I’m not saying it is like that, members of the DA are involved. For 19 years, it has not been accounted for, this money that is coming from the mines. They (the DA) are making noise but they must talk about how that money is utilised."
The DA’s Kate Lorimer accused the ANC of not fulfilling its promises.
She said former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa had said in 2004 that R1.2bn would go to an urban renewal programme in Bekkersdal.
"Now, in this debate, the MEC for local government says, ‘Oh no no no no, we didn’t mean R1.2bn would be allocated Then why promise it in the first place? Once again, promises were made and promises were broken by the ANC," she said.
Premier Nomvula Mokonyane denied the R1.2bn had been budgeted and voted for in the legislature.
Pointing to Cape Town’s version of the Bus Rapid Transit system, called MyCiTi, which apparently did not reach any of the city’s townships, Ms Mokonyane said: "The intention of the DA in Western Cape is to ensure that white supremacy is protected."
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