DA wants clarity on the decision to uplift administration in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality is shocked to learn from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government that the municipality’s administration in accordance with section 139(1)(b) is uplifted. The DA will write to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Busisiwe Shiba, requesting her to explain this decision.
The municipality was never effectively put under administration. The previous MEC of Cogta, Mr. Mandla Msibi, indicated to the DA that the administrator and the team would proceed at the end of February.
Since then, an administrator never came into office. The DA subsequently wrote to the current MEC of Cogta, Busisiwe Shiba, and she indicated that she is waiting for the decision of the Executive.
According to the Provincial Government, the decision to uplift the administration is based on a positive report they received on the municipality.
It is not clear who wrote the report in the absence of the administrator. Even with a “report” on the table, the DA requests full details on what those positive indicators are in order to take such a decision.
For the last two to three weeks the municipality was experiencing water leaks all over the municipality. Sewerage spillages occur daily. Besides load-shedding, there have been so many power outages in Bethal, Trichardt, and Secunda. While the temperature was at its lowest last week, many residents were without water.
Last week, Leandra, Emzinoni, and eMbalenhle have seen community members took to a violent protest, burning tires on the road due to the lack of service delivery. The only option is for the bankrupt Govan Mbeki Municipality to be dissolved.
The DA in Govan Mbeki Municipality will liaise with its counterpart in the Provincial Legislature to write a letter to the MEC of Cogta to explain the above-mentioned report and the decision to uplift section 139(1)(b).
The residents of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality need change for better service delivery. The DA will continue fighting for the residents of this municipality until they get what they deserve
