The election of the new Koopmansfontein communal property association leadership was stopped on Saturday as beneficiaries claimed that the incoming leaders were not nominated by them.
THE ELECTION of the new Koopmansfontein communal property association (CPA) leadership was stopped on Saturday as beneficiaries claimed that the incoming leaders were not nominated by them.
The police were also called to intervene after the entrance to Koopmansfontein farm was blocked and tyres were set alight.
CPA members approached the Northern Cape High Court on Friday to obtain an urgent interdict to halt the elections.
CPA member Richard Springbok said the case was postponed until July 22 so that the elders could tell the court what had transpired since 2019.
He added that an annual general meeting was convened on Saturday, where transport was arranged for elderly community members to allegedly vote in leaders who were not nominated by the beneficiaries.
“They were taking advantage of the elderly as they don’t know what is happening. We were not prepared to go to another election where leaders are appointed in a fraudulent and corrupt manner,” said Springbok.
“Nothing must happen until the court case is finalised … We want everything that was discussed in the meeting to be shared with us in black and white. Beneficiaries were not invited to come to the meeting, while mine security were hired to stand at the gates to prevent us from entering. We are not fighting for positions, but for transparency and good governance.”
Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said on Sunday that the Delportshoop police attended to a complaint at Koopmansfontein following dissatisfaction amongst “divided groups” of the Koopmansfontein CPA.
“Koopmansfontein CPA elections were scheduled to take place on Saturday. However, there were disagreements amongst the Koopmansfontein CPA members. The police intervened. The elections could not proceed as scheduled and the CPA members dispersed,” said Tawana.
