Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Ofentse Madzebatela here
Today the City of Tshwane approved a new waste management by-law for public participation.
The DA welcomes many of its provisions, including added powers for municipal law enforcement officers to confiscate vehicles used in illegal dumping.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for environmental management Cllr Obakeng Ramabodu is also the regional chairperson of the EFF. In this position he has often encouraged land grabs in violation of the constitution and the law.
Land grabs are bad in and of themselves, and they drive the development of informal settlements.
The waste generated from unserviced stands in these settlements results in illegal dumping and dirty streets and public spaces.
Land grabs, and informal settlements is therefore one of the major drivers behind illegal dumping, especially in townships.
In the debate on the item, I challenged MMC Ramabodu to disavow this practice, as an important message to the public and his own constituency. He refused to do so, reflecting the awkward reality of a lawless party being at the heart of government in the capital city.