Vacant mayoral post enrages communities
"When we visit the municipal offices, they are always reluctant to assist, telling us they have no mayor. This has to stop. We need a mayor, so that they can account."
BURGERSFORT – The delay by the ANC in the appointment of a candidate in the vacant mayoral position at Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) has angered locals.
The mayoral position has been vacant since December 12 after the resignation of former mayor Johannes Phokane amid the VBS scandal.
Steelpoort communities issued an ultimatum to FTLM and the ANC “to appoint a new mayor, or we will make Steelpoort ungovernable. We will blockade the roads”. This declared in a statement from a group calling themselves Steelpoort Leadership and Force of Commanders (SLFC).
“We have given them enough time to appoint a mayor but they are doing nothing. They are busy postponing and pushing and shoving each other in the council meetings while services are stagnant in the villages.
“Services have stalled. What kind of municipality runs without a mayor for such a long time?” questioned Elias Tshukudu.
He threatened that they will arrange a massive protest if someone is not appointed before the end of this week.
“When we visit the municipal offices, they are always reluctant to assist, telling us they have no mayor. This has to stop. We need a mayor, so that they can account.”
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted the Sekhukhune ANC’s regional secretary, Jerry Maseko with regards to the unoccupied post.
“We can confirm that we are at an advanced stage to forward someone to the FTLM mayoral post. The Sekhukhune ANC region, as well as the provincial leadership, are currently in talks to deploy our member.”
Meanwhile, the FTLM council has made a decision to fill the posts of acting municipal manager and acting chief financial officer (CFO).
The two positions have been vacant since February 15. Although the names of the two officials were not immediately confirmed, the paper understands the council resolved to request the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to second officials to act as the municipal manager and CFO.
