National intervention required after MEC Kegakilwe failed the people of Tswaing

Issued by Carin Visser, MP – DA Constituency Head, Tswaing District
16 Feb 2020 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West is dismayed at the persisting turmoil in the towns of Sannieshof, Delareyville and Ottosdal. This after MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gordon Kegakilwe, visited the Tswaing Local Municipality this week in an attempt to resolve the ongoing strike by municipal workers.

The fact that only ANC councillors have been invited to this meeting, speaks volumes of the lack of political will to address challenges within the council and the impact it has on residents.

The strike emanated from the municipality’s failure to pay third party deductions over to the employees’ pension fund for the past two years, which is now greatly affecting the already non-existent service delivery by the municipality.

Residents are left without water, electricity and other essential services. The licensing offices are closed and not even the Municipal Manager, Isaac Moruti, are to be found in his office.

The MEC’s decision to suspend the Administrator, Tiro Mose for four days, clearly indicates his lack of sober judgment and exposes the deeply rooted factionalism within the ANC.

This municipality has been placed under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(b) in 2018 due to the gross mismanagement by the Municipal Manager, Isaac Moruti. It is therefore unthinkable that the MEC will suspend the Administrator and leave the Municipal Manager, who is responsible for the collapsed state of this municipality, in charge.

The DA has called for a council meeting within seven working days in an attempt to find solutions to the serious service delivery challenges within this municipality.

We will further write to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to request her urgent intervention, as MEC Kegakilwe is clearly failing in his duties.

As part of our duty towards the citizens of Tswaing, we will continue to fight for the clean governance and service delivery that the people are constitutionally entitled to.