DA’s Pressure Protects Residents’ Rights

by Cllr Mike da Silva — DA Spokesperson for GCYPD Committee in Ekurhuleni

Date: 2 August 2023

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

Pressure from the Democratic Alliance in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has yielded results as the ill-conceived Arts Culture & Heritage Facilities by-law and its twin, the Libraries by-law was sent back to the SHRAC oversight committee for further scrutiny.

While the DA welcomes by-laws which will assist with the running of these facilities, we will not sit by idly if these by-laws do not follow the correct processes or are constitutionally invalid.

Of particular concern was the fact that sections of the Arts Culture & Heritage facilities by-law gives unilateral power to City officials to prohibit any production, film, slide, video show, or presentation, at their sole discretion and on the grounds of what that city official deems to be inappropriate.

If implemented, this could be used to censor dissent and is thus a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression, which is enshrined in the Constitution.

The DA raised further objection to the public participation process which we do not believe was done in a thorough manner.

We will continue to work in the oversight to ensure that the by-law is written in a way that upholds the rights of residents.

Cllr Mike da Silva

DA Spokesperson for GCYPD

072 963 2654