The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Simon Skhosana has expressed shock and concern at the arrest of the Emalahleni Local Municipality Administrator Mr Theo van Vuuren. MEC Skhosana says the arrest of Mr Van Vuuren was unwarranted and it seems as if there are some groups who want to intimidate him in the execution of his duties.
“We are concerned that this arrest comes at a time when the municipality is turning around and the Administrator is implementing the turnaround strategy. Significant progress is being made by the Municipality,” said Skhosana.
Mr van Vuuren was arrested this morning, Monday 22 July 2013 on charges that he had defied a court order issued against the municipality in November 2012. The court order was issued after the municipality sold a piece of land to the local Muslim Community to build a Mosque in 2007.
A certain group that was not happy with the transaction took the matter to the High court citing procedural flaws in the way the sale was handled. The High Court ruled that the transaction be reversed up to the sale. Mr Van Vuuren has been released on a warning and he will be expected to appear in court on 7 August 2013.
The arrest of Mr Van Vuuren has caught the municipality by surprise as they were already implementing the court order. The municipality is also seeking clarity from the High Court in terms of some sections of the ruling that are not clear to them. The Administrator has already written to the Muslim Community instructing them to tear down all structures on the land under dispute.
The municipality has also instructed its legal team to look into the matter of the arrest of the Administrator, with the view of pursuing legal action for unlawful arrest.
MEC Skhosana says with that he is satisfied with the progress that the municipality has made since it was put under administration in terms of section 139(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No.108 of 1996).
He further appealed to the communities and all stakeholders of the Emalahleni Local Municipality to continue working with the Administrator in dealing with the problems that have plagued the municipality and turning it around.
Contact person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
