DA to Table Proposals To Resolve Outstanding Petitions And Speed Up The Petitions Process

by Cllr Thavha Malcolm Maifala-Masebe — DA Spokesperson: Public Participation and Petitions and Cllr Amanda Davison — DA Ward 15 Councillor

Date: 31 August 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) will during the next scheduled Public Participation and Petitions (PPP) Committee meeting put forward proposals that will ensure petitions from the previous term of office are finalised, and new petitions are dealt with timeously.

With petitions dating as far back as 2017, the DA believes the committee needs to be more proactive in dealing with petitions. While some minimal progress has been made recently, the DA believes the committee can do more to implore departments to finalise outstanding petitions; especially those submitted during the previous term of office.

As a starting point, the DA believes that the committee needs to ramp-up convening hearings with departments in order deal with outstanding petitions. Up to this point, only one department has been called for a hearing. This is despite the chairperson indicating more departments would be summoned to hearings.

In this regard, the DA believes that it will be more beneficial calling all departments over two days to deal will all outstanding petitions. This comes after council had resolved that all petitions from the previous term of office be finalised.

With departments being summoned for a hearing, it helps getting more petitions resolved and those which cannot be resolved at the time, can be given a more comprehensive update.

The DA also believes that the PPP committee can play a part in resolving new petitions quicker, by making minor adjustments to the workflow of the committee. As a start, the DA calls on all departments to give comments to all new petitions as they are presented before the committee.

The Constitution of South Africa clearly states in Section 17 that Everyone has the right to present petitions. As the DA we believe petitions gives a voice to the residents and should be a necessary priority.

Sadly, residents of Ekurhuleni seem to have been let down by the PPP system, and the DA is here to put on the table mechanisms that will ensure that the PPP committee works efficiently to address their needs.

The DA is committed to ensuring that public participation mechanisms such as petitions work effectively and timeously in addressing the needs of the residents.

Cllr Thavha Malcolm Maifala-Masebe

DA Spokesperson: Public Participation and Petitions

0615404973

Cllr Amanda Davison

DA Ward 15 Councillor

0615404973