Mayoral candidate refused access to Home Affairs
Not his affairs, a security guard argued.
During a campaign which commenced today (Friday 26 February) to familiarise himself with local service delivery issues, DA Mayoral Candidate, Herman Mashaba, was denied access to Roodepoort’s branch of the Department of Home Affairs.
The reasons were unclear. With him was Member of Parliament (MP) Anchen Dreyer, Ward 71 councillor Gert Niemand and an entourage of DA campaign organisers. Mashaba’s campaign to understand Roodepoort’s struggles started outside the Roodepoort branch at 11am this morning, with a crowd of DA supporters toyi-toying in the backrground. Dreyer and Niemand explained to him the parking issue at Home Affairs and the fact that people often have no other choice but to park illegally (which often ends in fines issued to them). Their argument was, as the Record reported on in July last year, a whole space exists behind the row of properties along Albertina Sisulu Road, which could easily be turned into a parking lot with ample space.
“Nobody has budged on getting it done,” Dreyer told him, in the Record’s company.
“The municipality argues the lot isn’t zoned accordingly, but hasn’t budged to get it zoned and deliver decent parking space to the people using this facility.”
Upon hearing it, Mashaba said he would like to speak to the Home Affairs branch’s manager, Pearl Poto. The entourage marched through the gates only to be told by security they cannot enter the building. A security guard further stated Poto is not in her office. He did not acknowledge Mashaba’s or Dreyer’s arguments that they, as political figures, by law can access and visit any public building.
After a short quarrel the group abandoned plans to visit the building and moved on to the Roodepoort Licensing Department in Westlake Avenue, Florida.
Dreyer afterwards said the security’s attitude towards officials speaks for itself.
Mashaba is still to visit the Roodepoort Rugby Club, the Department of Labour and the Florida Police Station later today, Nkele Molapo, his media liaison, told the Record.
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