by: Councillor Hendriette Van Huyssteen, DA Councillor: Naledi Local Municipality
ANC factions at war with one another over their preferred candidate in the Naledi Local Municipality are delaying the appointment of a new Municipal Manager.
The recruitment process for the position Municipal Manager has been concluded and needs only Council’s approval to proceed with the appointment of the preferred candidate.
The ANC Caucus basically collapsed the ordinary functioning of Council.
A special virtual Council meeting was scheduled for 17 July 2020 to appoint the Municipal Manager, but Speaker Councillor Clifton Groep postponed the meeting to 22 July 2020, due to safety concerns, so that arrangements could be made with the SAPS.
Some ANC and EFF councillors refused to attend the virtual meeting on the 22 July 2020. With 11 Councillors in attendance, the meeting was collapsed after an ANC Councillor left the proceedings leaving the meeting inquorate.
Last Friday, another attempt at a Council meeting also collapsed as ANC infighting escalated and there were threats of violence made in the municipal chambers.
The ANC factions are holding Council hostage to force the municipality to be placed under Section 139 (1)(c) administration which would result in its dissolution and force new elections.
The DA in Naledi has requested our Provincial Spokesperson on COGHSTA, Freddy Sonakile MPL, to write to the Acting MEC for Cooperative Governance, Boitumelo Moiloa, requesting her to intervene following three failed council meetings set to appoint a new Municipal Manager.
We will also request the Speaker to pursue disciplinary charges against ANC councillors who fail to attend council meetings without a valid reason and those who continue to disrupt proceedings.
For years, Naledi Local Municipality has been plagued by mismanagement and corruption which has compromised the municipality’s ability to deliver basic services. The appointment of a skilled Municipal Manager will be the first step towards restoring service delivery.
Media Enquiries:
Councillor Hendriette Van Huyssteen
DA Councillor: Naledi Local Municipality
071 361 4220
Idah Satikhe
DA North West Communications Officer
079 700 5382