The Democratic Alliance in KwaDukuza notes with concern that despite a clear directive from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Rev. T.D. Buthelezi, dated 5 August 2025, PR Councillors in KwaDukuza are still being denied the ability to issue proof of address letters.
Yesterday, the Speaker of Council announced that she would only bring this matter as an item to the next council sitting, this only after the DAs official announcement in council. While we welcome this belated step, we must make it clear that the Speaker has no choice but to comply with the MEC’s directive, and any further delays will not be tolerated.
Proof of residence letters are not the property of the ANC to be handed out selectively as a political tool. The deliberate withholding of this function from PR councillors is being weaponized by the ANC to hold on to their last 22% of power in KwaDukuza. This practice undermines democracy and while most of the ANC’s practices in KwaDukuza have reduced council to their political playground, the lives of the people of KwaDukuza are not for the ruling party to use as political gate keeping.
The DA will not stand by while the ANC manipulates basic services for political survival. We call on the Speaker to ensure that this directive is implemented without further delay. Should the Speaker fail to act decisively at the next council sitting, we will escalate this matter directly to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for urgent intervention.