Premier not involved in merger proposals
2013-01-29 16:24
Johannesburg - Free State Premier Ace Magashule had
nothing to do with proposals to merge the Metsimaholo and Ngwathe local
municipalities, his office said on Tuesday.
"Opposition parties are peddling lies about the
Sasolburg matter in order to gain political mileage," his spokesperson
Oupa Khoabane said.
"Premier Ace Magashule is not responsible for
demarcation processes."
The DA in the province said in a statement that documents
in its possession show Magashule lied about having nothing to do with the
proposed merger.
"Premier Magashule lied about his involvement in the
proposal to merge Sasolburg with the Ngwathe municipality," DA spokesperson
Patricia Kopane said.
Sasolburg falls under Metsimaholo, while Parys falls
under Ngwathe.
"In an interview with the Mail & Guardian
newspaper last week, Magashule claimed to have nothing to do with the demarcation
process, while his government made the proposal to the Municipal Demarcation
Board in December 2011," Kopane said.
Protests broke out two weeks ago in Sasolburg's Zamdela
township against the proposal to merge the two municipalities.
Four people were killed, and several others, including
two police officers, were injured.
More than 200 people were arrested, and there was
substantial damage to property.
Khoabane said only the demarcation board and the
co-operative governance department had jurisdiction over demarcation plans.
"This is the same reason why the premier requested
[Co-operative Governance] Minister Richard Baloyi and [Free State Human Settlements]
MEC Olly Mlamleli to go to Sasolburg and speak to the community, as they were
best placed to deal with the issue."
He said proposals to merge or split municipalities
remained proposals until the board and the affected residents had held
discussions and agreed on the matter.
Kopane urged Magashule to make official submissions to
the board advising against the merger.
"The premier’s double-speak on whether he wants a
merger has every chance of throwing gasoline onto the fire in Sasolburg."
- SAPA
