The ANC in the Western Cape says it is “appalled by the DA’s flagrant abuse of government resources” ahead of a hotly contested by-election in Beaufort West.
ANC provincial spokesperson Lionel Adendorf alleges the DA brought forward the opening of the Hillside Clinic to coincide with the casting of special votes yesterday.
Today's by-election follows the resignation from council of former mayor Djorge Malooi, who was also the councillor for Ward 7.
Should the ANC win the ward, it would wrest control of the municipality from a coalition of the DA and the Karoo Democratic Force.
This would also hand the ANC control of the Central Karoo District Municipality.
Responding to the ANC's charges, the DA's manager for the eastern region, Jaco Londt, said the opening of the clinic had no relation to the by-election campaign.
The opening of the new clinic was attended by MECs Albert Fritz (social development), Donald Grant (public works and transport), Nomafrench Mbombo (health) and Bonginkosi Madikizela (human settlements).
“We have instructed our MPLs to ask questions about the use of government resources by these provincial ministers in the legislature and to get to the actual cost of this event, attended by mostly DA-supporters, canvassers and members, while the community that was invited to attend were not allowed to enter the premises and disinvited from attending the opening on arrival,” said Adendorf.
Londt responded: “ This clinic was built to serve the community and I am happy for that. I have nothing further to comment.”
He said he was not at the opening of the clinic, as he was working on the by-election campaign.
Spokesperson for Mbombo, Zimkitha Mquteni, said the clinic would start operating from July. “The building was handed over by Donald Grant, but the equipment still needs to be fitted.” Mquteni said the new clinic, which cost R23.5 million, was built to replace a smaller clinic and is the first green clinic in the province.