26 October 1999

The Freedom of Expression Institute is shocked by the fact that Pimville, Soweto, councillor, Trevor Ngwane has been suspended by the Greater Johannesburg region of the African National Congress (GJANC). Apparently, clr. Ngwane has been suspended from three prominent positions that he holds: ANC chairperson of the Northern sub-region, deputy chairperson of Pimville's ANC branch and chairperson of the town-planning committee. The suspension is as a result of an article that clr. Ngwane wrote in the Sunday World newspaper, opposing the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council's controversial Igoli 2002 plan. The plan involves the commercialisation and privatisation of the GJMC's services, and is opposed by several unions, political and community organisations on the basis that it will lead to services such as water, electricity and sanitation becoming increasingly unaffordable.

Clr. Ngwane wrote the article based on his experiences as councillor for Pimville. As a publicly-elected representative, he is duty bound to raise debates about matters that affect the constituency that put him in office. Not to do so would be tantamount to him reneging on his responsibilities. One of the matters that he raised, for example, is that there has been hardly any consultation with his constituency about Igoli 2002. It was entirely appropriate for clr. Ngwane to air this matter, and others, in public, as he is making the grievances of his constituency known. In acting against him in the way that they are, the GJANC are violating not only his right to freedom of expression, but his democratic obligation to expression himself freely in order to make these grievances known. To violate his freedom of expression rights is to violate the freedom of expression rights of his constituency.

Also, what is most disturbing is that the GJANC has suspended him both from ANC and council structures, without discriminating between the two. This indiscriminate action collapses the line between party and state structures, which is extremely unhealthy. We call on the GJANC to drop their actions against clr. Ngwane immediately, and to uphold his right to freedom of expression, and by extension, the right to free expression of his constituency. We also call on the GJANC to uphold clr. Ngwane's role as a democratically elected representative of the residents of Pimville.

Contact: Mandla Seleoane (TEL: 012-302-2325, cell: 083-602-5507) Raymond Louw (TEL: 646-8790, cell: 082-446-5155)