AfriForum today promised its support to the appeal applications of Pionier and the Koster Concerned Residents (KCR) against the recent court ruling in which judge Mahlangu ruled that the KCR must give the water and sewage plants in Koster and Swartruggens back to the Municipality and that the municipal manager of Kgetlengrivier, Joseph Mogale, was not guilty of contempt of court.
According to Johan Kruger, Head of Community Development at AfriForum, the KCR and Pionier appeal against this court ruling. “We welcome the application for leave to appeal against the doubtful ruling that judge Mahlangu gave. The importance of this matter for communities is to great not to appeal,” says Kruger.
“Pionier and the KCR offers conclusive reasons why judge Mahlangu made a mistake, both legally and factually. The ruling that Mogale is not guilty of contempt of court is beyond comprehension.
“The principle of greater participation in deliberations and involvement of communities in the management of services where municipalities plod along amidst corruption, mismanagement, bankruptcy and lack of skills is non-negotiable. For government officials to hang on to a failed system is a slap in the face of taxpayers and communities that are entitled to service delivery,” Kruger concludes.