“Hijacker of the Gravy Train” is quite correct to protest vociferously about the choice of venue for the Municipal Strategic Planning Session. (Shame on Muni for luxury spending, Grocott’s 24 January 2012). The Democratic Alliance is not going to defend that choice as we protested equally vociferously when the decision was first announced. We trust that Mr Matebese as municipal spokesperson will note that in a press release.

However, “Mr Hijacker” asked “What boggles the mind is how Makana councillors can (including Opposition Councillors – Councillor Les Reynolds seems to have given his blessing, judging from his quoted statement in a separate article on Page 9 of your 20 January edition) honestly participate in this shindig and ‘freebie’ when they interact with under-development, unemployment and poverty in their  constituencies and wards on a daily basis?”

That is a good question and Mr Hijacker and all the other members of the public deserve an explanation. Obviously we cannot speak for the ANC, Mind and Cope who were all present.

The Democratic Alliance has always had a constructive approach to opposition, and we do not stay away for the sake of staying away. We attend as many municipal meetings and committees as we possibly can, be they in or out of the Council Chamber, as a means of influencing events and gathering as much information as we can. We have an unblemished record in that regard. It is a pity that the other parties cannot make
the same boast. The event which has to be held, needs the full compliment of councillors and officials to make it worthwhile.

The first attempt to have this session was in Grahamstown, but the organisers could not proceed because the DA caucus was there and hardly anybody else. Understandably, the officials rescheduled the workshop. Perhaps the municipal spokesperson could explain why it had to be held elsewhere.

At the mayoral end of year function for municipal staff we noticed that once again the DA caucus was  there, but apart from the mayor and the speaker, only three or four of the other 20 elected politicians were present.

Regarding the Municipal Strategic Planning Session, as much as we would like the DA voice to be the only  at these events we can understand that this could lead to the Makana Executive having to answer embarrassing questions with the upper echelons of their own political organisation. The fact that the event was held elsewhere was therefore not a surprise.

True to our track record we were determined that our voice would be heard, in decibels greater than our numbers would suggest. Perhaps if the other parties had the same track record the event could have been held in Makana as originally planned.

The planning session involved forward planning for the next five years and for once a full compliment of  officials and politicians, bar one who appeared for the commencement and closure sessions, were present.

Brian Jackson

DA Councillor Ward 8