/ 12 April 2004

Show us the defectors, challenges DA

The Democratic Alliance in the North West has challenged the African National Congress to show proof that 20 of its members had defected to the ruling party.

DA spokesperson Barbara Harrison claimed that the ANC was busy with an election strategy to distract attention from a decade of failures and non-delivery.

”A few weeks ago in a similar publicity stunt the ANC lured 40 destitute members of the public into a hall in Christiana with promises of food parcels and then announced that they were defecting from the DA to the ANC.

”None of these people were members of the DA, neither could the ANC provide any proof of their alleged membership.”

Harris said the DA expected its request to be responded to with deafening silence ”as usual”.

The ANC in the province also said more than 180 members of the United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP) in Potchefstroom and Mafikeng had joined the ruling party, saying they placed a final nail in Lucas Mangope’s ”dream” of restoring the Boputhatswana homeland.

The UCDP could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the North West DA has lashed out at the suspension of the province’s North West police Deputy Commissioner, Isak Smalman, and called for an even-handed and unbiased policy on disciplinary matters in the South African Police Service (SAPS), free from trade-union interference.

”The North West SAPS has in the immediate past been characterised by a lack of consistency in the application of policy regarding suspensions,” a statement read.

”In some cases members accused of and under investigation for alleged offences such as bribery, theft and corruption do not get suspended because ‘they have not been found guilty’ while others, flouting labour legislation and SAPS regulations, get suspended at will.

”The continued loss of expertise, stretching over the whole spectrum of ranks, through forced resignations, irrational transfers, vilification and vindictiveness has now reached such proportions that the efficiency of the North West SAPS is suffering serious negative effects.”

The police spokesperson for the Office of the National Commissioner, Sally de Beer, confirmed that a disciplinary involving a suspended high-ranking officer is in place but said it is not policy to name the person.

”Procedures in the police are always even handed, unbiased and follow specific guidelines,” she said. — Sapa

  • Special Report: Elections 2004