LOUIS TRICHARDT – The Democratic Alliance says it will not be silenced but will continue to expose sloppy development, which does not benefit the community.

The DA reacted in a press statement to actions by Mr R W Mukhari of the Willcass Group. The statement says Mr Makhari, in an attempt to silence the DA, had instructed his attorneys to accuse Ward Councillor Marie Helm of defamatory statements, after her criticism was published in various newspapers.

The DA, which exposed the extremely bad quality of work on the hostel redevelopment project in Tshikota during March this year, says Mr Mukhari and his Willcass Group should rather concentrate on repairing the badly constructed hostel redevelopment project and not waste money on issues they cannot win.

The statement says it is interesting to note that, notwithstanding various letters from the municipality, the Provincial Housing Board has done little to force the Willcass Group to comply with the contract entered into between themselves and the group.

"Any contractor who deliberately develops without approved building plans and who deliberately follows the un-approved building plans and who provides such low quality work, cannot claim to be serious about poverty alleviation and the betterment of the living conditions of the poor.

"The DA will continue, fearlessly, to expose sloppy developments which do not benefit our community and we will not be scared off by attorney letters that try to protect those who do not have the best interests of our community at heart. We will protect those who cannot protect themselves and we will fight for those who are unable to fight for themselves," the statement reads.