Councillor resigns over 'lack of transparency' on George building collapse

GEORGE councillor, Chantelle Kyd has resigned from Planning and Development Mayoral Committee over what she says is the DA-led municipality’s lack of transparency over the confidential tabling of reports on the George building collapse.

More than a year since the May 6 tragedy, several investigations and numerous promises of accountability have yet to result in any justice for the families of the victims of the George building collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 workers and left dozens injured.

The GOOD councillor on Friday tendered her resignation, saying it was not an easy decision but that she could not stay in an executive role where “truth is suppressed, accountability is avoided, and coalition partners are treated with contempt rather than respect”.

Kyd said: “The DA-led coalition in George has increasingly demonstrated a deep disregard for the principles of co-governance. There has been a consistent and deliberate pattern of sidelining, marginalising, and censoring coalition partners. This pattern extends to matters of national importance, such as the investigation into the building collapse, an issue I have been centrally involved in. Despite being the MMC responsible for Planning, I was effectively gagged (in council) from speaking on the very matter I was mandated to lead on.

“It is unacceptable that the DA would choose to table critical reports behind closed doors, bar the media, and deny coalition partners the opportunity to address the public truthfully. This behaviour is authoritarian, and it erodes the foundation of partnership and accountability upon which coalitions should be built.” 

Kyd accused the DA of expecting coalition partners to “simply fall in line, regardless of principle, process, or public interest”. 

DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said the position to table the item as confidential was a “collective decision”. 

“Contrary to their statement, the position on the specific item in question was adopted by the Joint Coalition Caucus as all parties agreed to its recommendations - which included GOOD’s participation - not solely by the DA caucus. This was a collective decision that all coalition partners were thus expected to uphold.

"Furthermore, as GOOD communicated in recent weeks on the matter publicly, GOOD was informed that it could issue a party-political statement on the matter following the council meeting. So in no way were GOOD George sidelined, marginalised or censored while a member of the coalition government. The DA remains firmly committed to stable, principled, and effective coalition governance we form part off and wherever we serve, guided by the spirit and terms of the agreed upon coalition agreement which binds all parties that are part of the coalition government,” said Simmers. 

The George municipality did not respond to further requests for comment.