Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Jan van Rhyn.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Madibeng Local Municipality opposes the unilateral appointment of Ms Motlalekgomo Mmope as Acting Municipal Manager for Madibeng by the Speaker of the Municipal Council, Cllr Ditshego Mbedzi.
Ms Mmope was the previous Acting Municipal Manager, but her contract expired on July 5, 2022.
A Special Council Meeting was called for July 8, 2022, and it was proposed that Mr Moruti Tsotetsi be appointed as Acting Municipal Manager, pending the appointment of a permanent Municipal Manager or the secondment of an Acting Municipal Manager from the North West MEC of COGHSTA, Ms Lenah Miga. Ms Miga previously advised Council that Ms Mmope is not qualified for the position and lacks the necessary experience.
Despite this, certain ANC Councillors proposed that Ms Mmope be appointed again.
Because there were two candidates proposed, the house had to be divided and a vote held for the appointment, but instead of calling for a vote in accordance with the Rules of Order, the Speaker informed Council that no vote would be held and that she had appointed Ms Mmope as Acting Municipal Manager.
The Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, Section 54, clearly states that the Municipal Council must appoint a Municipal Manager or Acting Municipal Manager.
The Speaker of Madibeng took this critical decision away from the Council and made a decision that she was not legally entitled to make.
The DA in Madibeng has already written to the Speaker, informing her that she overstepped her authority and that any decisions made by Ms Mmope are illegal.
The position of Municipal Manager in Madibeng has been vacant for several years, with acting appointments the norm. This impedes service delivery and is detrimental to the Madibeng community.
The search for a permanent Municipal Manager was well underway, with a member of the DA Caucus on the selection panel. Interviews with candidates were scheduled, but the process was halted when Ms Mmope filed an urgent application with the High Court in Johannesburg, interdicting the municipality from completing the process because she believes she is the best candidate for the position.
Since the inception of the new Municipal Council in November 2021, the current Speaker has been unable to maintain order during Council meetings, resulting in meetings that sometimes end in chaos. She is clearly unfit for the job because she is unfamiliar with the law and the Rules of Order, and it is past time for her to resign and pass the torch to someone more capable.
Should the irregular appointment of the Acting Municipal Manager not be overturned immediately, the DA in Madibeng will submit a motion of no confidence in Speaker Mbedzi.