Chairperson of the Petitions Standing Committee, Advocate Ezra Letsoalo has expressed the Legislature’s disappointment at the City of Tshwane’s failure to timeously report on petitions that were meant to be heard in a public hearing this morning (17 November) concerning different service delivery petitions from the City.
In accordance with the petitions system, hearings are a form of escalation when authorities (after numerous extensions) do not submit reports, which are required to resolve petitions. Eight (8) of the ten (10) petitions that were meant to be tabled this morning, were selected from a large pool of the City’s petitions that the Committee has in its petitions register directly impacting on service delivery from areas like Mamelodi, Eersterust, Rayton, Kameeldrift and Ekangala.
The non-submission of reports to the Committee two (2) days prior to the scheduled hearing, hamstrings the Committee. This hinders Members ability’s to adequately engage and comprehend the reports. Reducing the Committee’s ability to perform the mediatory role between the City of Tshwane and Petitioners on the day of the hearing.
“The non action by the City’s authorities has undermined the Legislature’s mandate of public participation and oversight. This action further delays the conclusion of petitions, thereby keeping the petitions register stagnant, frustrating not only the Committee in its role but also slowing down the redress mechanism for ordinary citizens who’s last and only hope is in the hands of the Legislature”; expressed Adv. Letsoalo, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Petitions.
The Committee would like to strongly state that the non-response from public authorities whether local municipalities or Gauteng government departments will not be tolerated. Further escalations will be applied in line with the Petitions Act no.5 of 2002, where senior public representatives will be subpoenad to appear before the Committee.
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