Karl Mabelane of Marambane writes:

Karl Mabelane of Marambane writes:

The Shona of Zimbabwe, as depicted by the prolific singer Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, taught me to like the song “Bvuma wa sakara!” (I agree you are!). I was tempted to sing it during the recent council meeting, when the honourable executive mayor read his report to the members.

I have nothing against this gentleman of local politics, but I take issue with the manner in which he presented the report – it contradicted his verbal response to queries of the local legislature.

We knew before the meeting that a team had been appointed by the province, yet he went to council to waste time saying, “Council is urged to approve and mandate the executive mayor to finalise the secondment of appropriate and skilful personnel.” That is hogwash, man. “Jy maak ons moegoes” (you make fools of us) since everybody who is travelling on the technological highway, knew on Friday that a team had been appointed and that Thaba Chweu had been classified as one of the worst-managed municipalities in South Africa.

This report urging council to mandate the mayor was made on October 1, yet he said in his own words “it is envisaged that the much-needed support… be effective from October 1″. This proves that the team was long appointed and the gentleman was like too shy to say that they had appointed a team on his behalf.

As if that were not enough, he went on to say “council is further requested to approve” that the new acting municipal manager “be given full delegations of powers and functions”. In reaction to a question from one of the councillors, the honourable gentleman, now joined by the madam of the house (speaker),they both said this statement did not affect the powers of the executive mayor.

No man, most members of the public who were there, know that the powers of the executive mayor had been taken away. Nothing will be done by the “executive’ without the consent of the “new acting manager and his team”. It might not be said, but we now know that Thaba Chweu has yet again been placed under administration.

Call it by any other name – task teams, support staff -the executive powers (delegated powers) are gone. The only things left are non-delegated powers which reside with the whole council under the stewardship of the speaker. Finish and klaar.