KIMBERLEY – In a startling incident of community management gone awry, a Kimberley resident faced an abrupt removal from their official Sol Plaatje Municipality (SPM) Ward WhatsApp group on Tuesday evening. The incident unfolded during an alleged gaslighting episode involving a DA Councillor, leaving more than 300 constituents bewildered, confused, or too afraid to speak up.
The DA Councillor’s terse message of “REMOVED” immediately after the citizen joined the group conveyed the resident’s expulsion without any accompanying explanation, reflecting a disregard for basic courtesy in community management.
The aggrieved resident, now blocked from both the WhatsApp group and the councillor’s contact list, finds themselves without a reason and a ward councillor, cutting off crucial communication with their elected representative.
Despite exhaustive attempts to seek answers from the councillor, the DA Media Communications Department, and Provincial DA Leader Harold McGluwa, the resident has been met with resounding silence.
“I emailed the ward councillor and the DA Northern Cape, and nobody has responded to let me know why I have been removed and why I was treated so rudely. Certainly not the conduct expected from a public official, particularly a ward councillor who is entrusted to serve all constituents equally,” expressed the resident.
While managing to get hold of McGluwa, the resident’s concerns were met with a vague promise to “refer it to the relevant person.” However, no contact has been made by the DA Northern Cape or the mysterious “relevant” person, leaving the resident in limbo.
The Kimberley Prospector, in pursuit of answers, faced its own challenges as media censorship unfolded in another DA-led Ward WhatsApp Group on November 27, prompting McGluwa to block the newspaper on WhatsApp.
The Kimberley Prospector remains steadfast in its pursuit of an amicable resolution, advocating for the reinstatement of the resident, and reinstatement of the publication to all ward groups, and ensuring that both media and citizen rights are respected, particularly the media’s right to inform residents.
The act of blocking a constituent on WhatsApp and from the ward group is unacceptable, as it effectively stifles communication between the resident and their elected representative. Residents have the right to contact their ward councillor about concerns, and councillors have a duty to listen and respond.
If a resident encounters unjust exclusion, they can explore various avenues such as filing a complaint with the municipality or reaching out to the local ombudsperson, the SA Human Rights Commission, or the Public Protector. These channels can help ensure a fair resolution and uphold the rights of citizens.