A sex shop with viewing booths!  That is what the ANC approved at both the City Planning Committee, as well as during the monthly council meeting.  So much so for Deputy President Jacob Zuma's Moral Regeneration Movement!

Although the ANC used their majority to push this item through, the ACDP did not let it happen without a fight.  A debate that took place for more than an hour and that also caused some councillors to think twice about their political verses their moral stand - like the Mayor.  He is a man of the cloth you know.

ACDP member on the City Planning Committee, Councillor Pieter de Necker supported by the other ACDP Councillor, Richard Dinkelmann, argued strongly why it was not a good idea for Council to extend the rights of an adult shop in Sunnyside to now also have viewing booths.  The petition and outcry from the community against this shop was also tabled before council.

De Necker quoted various reports stating the negative effect pornography has on the individual, family and community as a whole.  He quoted Zuma, Asmal and even Madiba, yet the ANC was of the opinion that the application is legally and procedurally in order, and therefore the Council has no reason to deny the applicant the right of having viewing booths.

The vote at the end was interesting to observe.  The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance had some councillors voting in favour and some voting against.  Former ACDP Councillor, Thabo Makgato, who left the ACDP for the ID, abstained from voting.

This is democracy in Tshwane. The Majority Party ignores the cry of the majority (the community) to grant rights to a minority (a sex shop owner)!

"How can one say that you are extending services when two libraries are closed in a certain area and only one is opened in another?"

This was the question posed by Councillor Pieter de Necker at the monthly meeting of the City Council.  Arguing against the plan of the ANC to close certain libraries in the Centurion and Pretoria East area, councillor de Necker said that the Council should rather expand services instead of closing them down.

The ANC on the other hand was of the opinion that certain libraries in the more affluent areas should be amalgamated, so that the money saved could be used to build libraries in the rural areas.

"The ACDP encourages the building of libraries in the underprivileged areas, but is of the opinion that it is wrong for Council to close down libraries in the suburbs in order to save money.  Rather convert these libraries into centres operated by the community", de Necker said.

He also said that it is foolish to stop rendering services at one place, when a plan is not even in place to render the same service at another.  However, the ANC, with the support of the single ID councillor, used their majority to push this item through.

(Also see the PRESS STATEMENT on this issue)