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The Western Cape government will not tolerate any abusive or disruptive behaviour by political malcontents aimed at denying the people of the Karoo region the opportunity to bring their problems to the table during our upcoming Cabinet to the People visit. Cabinet will visit De Doorns, Touws River, Laingsburg and Prince Albert on 5 & 6 September.

Cabinet to the People has never been about politics. Yet, there is a small group of people which seems set on doing their utmost to abuse the platform to promote their narrow political interests. This happened in Ceres recently. Cabinet to the People is geared to open up communication channels between the community and the Cabinet and to promote good governance and will not tolerate any disruptions.

Those who, with their loud and abusive approach, seek to disrupt this process have no regard whatsoever for the democratic right of our communities to freely share their views and concerns with members of the provincial cabinet. During our visit to the Karoo there will once again be ample opportunity for personal interaction with cabinet members and I call on the public to take part.

I want to stress that I will not hesitate to take action against those who refuse others the opportunity to exercise their right to communicate with the cabinet in an open, transparent and peaceful manner. The Western Cape government will not be dissuaded from consulting with all the people of this province, whatever their political persuasion.

Contact: Enquiries Chris Koole at 082 774 3462

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape, 3 September 2001