The LAC wrote to 52 parties in the upcoming election asking them to state their positions on the River Club development.
What we found was the following:
– Of the 52 parties, 7 email addresses provided on the IEC website for the party were defunct, including that for the ANC.
– Of the remaining 45 parties:
> 6 parties responded by stating they opposed the development. These included the CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE 1ST MOVEMENT, the DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S ALTERNATIVE, GOD SAVE AFRICA, KHOI-SAN KINGDOM RSA, the LAND PARTY and THE ORGANIC HUMANITY MOVEMENT.
> 1 party responded by stating they were in favour of the development. This was the INTERNATIONAL PARTY.
> 5 parties noted our email and indicated they would get back to us but have not done so by the deadline requested.
– Of the parties with national representatives who received our email (DA, GOOD, EFF, VF, UDM), none indicated their position on the River Club development while the ANC was unreachable on the email provided to the IEC.
Some parties who did respond indicated they were unaware of the issue which is surprising since it is a key issue for civic democracy in South Africa.
Those parties who indicated opposition to the development, stated their opposition in very strong terms.
There may be an update as parties’ responses come in.
But what is disappointing is that the majority of parties did not respond to citizen’s concerns about the development by stating their position on the River Club clearly, especially the larger parties.
The Municipal elections are a key landmark for ensuring we have accountable and responsive local government. We will through our upcoming press release ask voters to consider this information carefully in exercising their vote in the upcoming elections.
Leslie London