Raliphi George Xolelizwe from Chief Mogale writes:At 10am on Wednesday, 31 August I attended per invitation the third special council meeting to deal with the matter on the agenda.
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) pleaded with the Office of the Speaker of Mogale City Local Municipality, that the invitation that we had received must not be the last. It must be seen as the beginning of strengthening the good relationship within the alliance partners.
We had to wait outside the Town Hall, as we were early. While we were waiting, the unofficial conversation began between us and the City’s newly elected councillors following the recent local government elections.
The dominant issue in our conversation was the overall performance of the ANC and its resultant standing in terms of support among people, as well as its image.
During the discussion Sanco raised a very important aspect – the decline in support. This quickly raised questions about the reasons for this and what needs to be done next.
Unfortunately, this is where our unofficial conversation ended, and we were ordered to enter the council chamber and be seated as the official opening of the third special council meeting was about to start.
Sanco was told that the inaugural sitting of Mogale City Municipal Council was on Thursday 18 August, which was its first council meeting after the local elections. As I sat there, I had one interest in my mind and that was the establishment of the Mayoral Committee.
The newly elected Mogale City Executive Mayor, Lynn (Auntie) Pannall, was sworn in on Thursday, but made her chosen Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) public at the third special council meeting.
Two of the 10 members came from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Freedom Front Plus respectively, who have joined forces with the DA after the local government elections this year.
All 10 MMCs were notified of their new appointment less than an hour before Auntie Pannell made the announcement in a council chamber at Mogale City Council.
