The DA in eThekwini has written to the Speaker of Council, Councillor Thabani Nyawose, calling on him to issue clear direction and pronouncements on the senior citizen vouchers which Ward Councillors are to distribute.
Some political parties are deliberately creating misinformation about the senior citizens vouchers, before they become available.
One of the most serious mistruths is that PR Councillors can distribute them. PR Councillors cannot, and they will not have these vouchers in their possession.
Another serious mistruth is that the City has provided enough of these vouchers for “all senior citizens.” They have not provided nearly enough.
Each Ward Councillor will only receive 500 vouchers to distribute, while there are thousands of senior citizens, who may qualify to receive them. Once these 500 vouchers have been handed out, the Ward Councillor will have no more.
The DA demands that the Speaker issues clear guidelines and direction about this.
Any signature list which is used in this process must comply with the POPI Act, and cannot be used for any other purpose.
So far the Speaker has just distanced himself from addressing these misleading communications. This issue could have been easily quashed, had the speaker issued a simple document with guidelines, especially given the fact that the councillors have still not been given any vouchers.
eThekwini bungles this rollout year after year, and the DA condemns this latest inaction from the Speaker.