Latest news with #GOODParty
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
'DA's frequent tantrums quite frankly embarrassing,' says GOOD Party
JOHANNESBURG - The GOOD Party says the Democratic Alliance's (DA) decision to withdraw from the National Dialogue demonstrates that it is participating in the Government of National Unity (GNU) for its own interests, rather than those of South Africans. At a media briefing on Saturday, the party announced it would boycott the dialogue until ministers facing corruption allegations are removed from office. READ: DA won't participate in National Dialogue if Ramaphosa doesn't fire corruption-accused ministers - Steenhuisen The latest dispute was sparked by President Cyril Ramaphosa's dismissal of the DA's Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield, over an unauthorised international trip. GOOD Party's Brett Herron said the DA was choosing to walk away instead of working towards solutions. "This latest tantrum, triggered by the president's refusal to yield to an artificial 48-hour ultimatum, is not a principled stand - it is political theatre. The DA's ultimatum was exposed as inconsequential, and their frequent tantrums are quite frankly embarrassing. "South Africa does not need parties walking away from dialogue. It needs leadership that can engage with complexity, manage disagreement maturely, and stay the course. The DA's decision to abandon the national dialogue, while clinging to its GNU positions, exposes the contradiction in its stance." ALSO READ: Whitfield's axing disproportionate when compared to transgressions of ANC ministers - DA leader John Steenhuisen
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Drakenstein Municipality denies illegal firearms possession claims
The Drakenstein Municipality has denied allegations that it is illegally in possession of 64 firearms in violation of the Firearms Control Act. Image: File THE DA-led Drakenstein Municipality has dismissed as misinformation claims that it was illegally in possession of 64 firearms in violation of the Firearms Control Act. The GOOD Party had sounded the alarm that the municipality had allegedly never applied for recognition as an official institution after the Firearms Control Act came into force on 1 July 2004. GOOD councillor Keagen Gertse said the municipality was in breach of Schedule 1 of the Act, which 'required non-recognised institutions to surrender such firearms to SAPS'. 'Drakenstein is not authorised to own, store, or use firearms. Yet, it continues to do all three, with full knowledge of the law and in blatant defiance of it. This revelation raises serious concerns about the safety of residents and the credibility of the DA's governance. How can the same party summon SAPS to Parliament over gun crime when its own municipality is hoarding illegal weapons and potentially using them for training or operational purposes? 'The GOOD Party can confirm that Drakenstein Municipality never applied for recognition as an official institution after the Firearms Control Act came into force on 1 July 2004. Instead, it has continued to unlawfully possess an arsenal of weapons, for 21 years, in breach of Schedule 1 of the Act, which required non-recognised institutions to surrender such firearms to SAPS,' said Gertse. He said GOOD will be 'tabling this matter in the relevant oversight forums and demanding that SAPS act swiftly to seize these illegal firearms'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, according to the municipality they had been authorised by police to be in possession of firearms and ammunition. 'The allegation that Drakenstein Municipality is in possession of illegal firearms is deprived of any truth and aims to bring the Municipality in disrepute, which is regrettable. Misinformation spread in this regard is not only reckless but also very irresponsible. The Municipality is authorised by the South African Police Service or SAPS (the delegated authority of the National Commissioner) to be in possession of firearms and ammunition in terms of the law, and firearms are kept and managed in line with prevailing rules and legislation. Regular firearms inspections are carried out by SAPS, of which the latest one was done by the SAPS Provincial Office on 7 June 2025,' the municipality said. Gertse said the visit from SAPS was not a regular firearms inspection, 'it was as part of the Municipality's application to become an official institution in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000'. 'There exists no alternative legal framework in which a Municipality can own or be in possession of firearms or ammunition, outside of being an official institution and registered in the national Registrar or by authorisation from the National Commissioner. It was admitted in a Portfolio Committee that they did opt to apply for recognition when the Firearms Control Act came into effect and are only exploring this avenue now as they want to procure new firearms,' he said. Western Cape police were unable to answer questions seeking confirmation of the inspection and what authorisation the municipality did have and when it was obtained. They also asked to be provided with a case number and where it was registered to source correct information. DA Western Cape leader, Tertuis Simmers said the issue was a governance matter which the Drakenstein Municipality had responded to. 'On 7 June 2025 SAPS inspected and gave the Drakenstein Municipality and its Law Enforcement, who use firearms, a thumbs up,' he said. Cape Times
