Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by CJ Steyl MPL.
The DA has written to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, requesting him to expedite the process to place the Ditsobotla Local Municipality under Section 139(7) national government administration. We previously submitted our request on 10 January 2025. See letter here.
Since then, the situation in Ditsobotla continues to deteriorate.
Yesterday’s shootout between bodyguards of the former, and reinstated, Municipal Manager (MM), Olaotswe Bojosinyane, and municipal workers is indicative of ANC party political factions at war instead of governing to deliver services and resolve the water and electricity crisis.
While the politicised municipal workers fight it out on the streets, residents do not have water or electricity.
This morning, we were informed that the reinstated MM Bojosinyane called a Special Council meeting in Mahikeng to remove the Ditsobotla Speaker and Mayor. See notice here.
While the Ditsobotla Speaker, Cllr Nico Modisakeng, called a Special Council meeting in Lichtenburg to discuss the appeal of the Labour Court judgement, which confirmed that MM Bojosinyane’s immediate termination was unlawful. See notice here.
The ANC in Ditsobotla has now created two factional councils.
Under these conditions the intervention by the North West Provincial Government cannot continue, and it is the DA’s submission that only a national government intervention under Section 139(7) will be able to address the systemic issues persistent in the municipality and to restore service delivery, specifically to resolve the extended water and electricity crisis.
The DA has also requested the permanent employment of public order policing in Ditsobotla to maintain public peace and order as well as to protect municipal critical infrastructure.
These recent events in Ditsobotla are the result of 30 years of ANC cadre deployment and the politicisation of the municipal administration along ANC factional lines. It must be brought to an end immediately.
Our call on the national government to intervene under Section 139(7) seeks to implement:
- A fully funded financial recovery plan administered by National Treasury;
- An independent financial forensic audit;
- An independent skills audit of all management;
- Lifestyle audits of all elected political office bearers and municipal management;
- Disciplinary action to remove compromised politicians and municipal officials from office and prosecution of all individuals complicit in criminal activity;
- The recruitment of skilled, qualified, and experienced officials through a fair and transparent process without any political influence; and,
- The Asset Forfeiture Unit must recover all losses identified in the forensic audit.
We reiterate our call to all Ditsobotla residents to sign the DA’s petition to place the municipality under Section 139(7) national government administration immediately. Sign the petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/put-ditsobotla-under-administration