On Wednesday, (4 May) Noluthando Hall in Joza, was the venue for the third Radio Grahamstown, RMR, Grocott's Mail #Makana 16 Election Connection Debate.
On Wednesday, (4 May) Noluthando Hall in Joza, was the venue for the third Radio Grahamstown, RMR, Grocott's Mail #Makana 16 Election Connection Debate.
The panel included Likhaya Ngqezane (ANC), Xolani Mvula (DA) from Democratic Alliance, Mzwandile Qotoyi (EFF) from Economic Freedom Fighters, Brian Plaatjie (UF) and Nozipho Plaatjie (COPE).
In the opening remarks, Nozipho Plaatjie kicked off the debate by focusing on corruption and criticising Councillors and other Municipal members at Makana Municipality.
“There are high levels of corruption within the corruption and, as COPE, we found out the Municipality was allegedly involved in a corruption scandal which saw Makana stealing over R3 Million.”
Qotoyi on the other hand urged the people who were in attendance to “exercise their God-given right” and that “people must learn to vote with their minds not their hearts”.
Brian Plaatjie attacked the ANC for their unruly behaviour during the Election Connection Debates.
“The disruptive behaviour by the ANC is messing up debates and that is not good for the process of democracy.”
Likhaya Ngqezane focused on what is important for the people of the municipality.
“We need to address pertinent issues that the people of Makana are currently experiencing. We need to come up with solutions.”
Questions from the floor also focused on corruption as well as topics such as land and job creation.
Qotoyi made a promise that, if his party assumed power, they would “ensure quality assurance companies would perform clean audits, and also appoint skilled people in Municipal posts”.
The question of land distribution which came from a member of the audience was directed to Ngqezane.
“How I wish we would have a property summit to discuss the issue of land and address the ticking time bomb issues in our nation such as unemployment, inequality and corruption," he said. "We extended an olive branch to the public by introducing the “willing buyer, willing seller” approach which was aimed at addressing the land dilemma.”
Xolani Mvula, DA Representative defended his party after claims from one of the people in the audience that they have not addressed the issue of inequality and unemployment in Makana.
“If you look at the Western Cape, we have created more job opportunities for our people and we have made efforts in reducing inequality. We will do the same even at Makana once we get the chance to lead this Municipality,” he said.
Panellists and participants from the floor engaged in a robust, and sometimes abrasive debate, with party supporters often loudly giving voice to their positive or negative reactions, the volume of which was increased by the echoing acoustics of the venue.
A particularly loud response came from the DA supporters group, when Nqezana said that, despite its claims, the organisation was not corruption-free, citing a recent judgement against it in the Western Cape.
Near the end of the fourth and last round of questions, a group objected to the question-and-answer system put in place by the organisers.
This happened soon after Ngqezana was requested to answer two consecutive questions addressed to the ANC – the target of most of the challenges from the floor and from fellow panellists.
The debate was abruptly concluded, with the objectors, mostly EFF supporters, leaving the venue as a group.
The next round of the Election Connection Debate will be held at Rhodes University on 18 May, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, in the Zoology Major lecture theatre. It will be broadcast live on RMR.
The debates are a partnership between Radio Grahamstown, Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) and Grocott's Mail.
