The Public Protector has nearly finished his investigation into complaints over the incorporation of Matatiele into the Eastern Cape, his office said on Wednesday.
The Public Protector, advocate Lawrence Mushwana, met on Wednesday with the Matatiele-Maluti Mass Action Organising Committee to discuss its complaint.
”The committee was informed that the investigation is about to be concluded and that a report will be issued shortly,” said a spokesperson for Mushwana, Brenda Mpitsang.
Mushwana’s office is investigating allegations of procedural shortcomings in the voting process of the National Assembly when the Constitution 12th Amendment Bill, which resulted in the incorporation of Matatiele, was passed.
”The Public Protector also indicated that the complaints relating to the actions taken by the respective provincial and local governments in connection with the incorporation of Matatiele into the Eastern Cape, such as the transfer of assets, and the uncertainty that is currently experienced pending the judgment of the Constitutional Court regarding the procedure followed by the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in approving the 12th amendment, would be brought to the attention of the authorities concerned.
”This is in order to emphasise the need to have the matter resolved in a diplomatic and responsible manner,” said Mpitsang.
Matatiele was incorporated into the Eastern Cape on February 28, hours before voting started in the local government election. — Sapa