DA calls for the dissolving of Govan Mbeki Municipality’s council

In a press statement released by Mr James Masango, DA councillor, the DA will put a motion in at the Govan Mbeki Municipality and will write to the MEC of Cogta, Mr Mandla Msibi, in accordance to section 139(c) of the constitution to dissolve the municipal council.

Mr Masango said following years of struggle in the Govan Mbeki Municipality with water and electricity problems which are now not only a crisis but also a health hazard and life threatening to the residents, the motion will be done in accordance to section 34(1) of the Municipal Structures Act.

The DA wrote to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in 2020 to urgently intervene.

“With the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic picking up in this municipality and people losing their lives, it is unacceptable that residents can be without water for days, especially when residents pay for services rendered by the municipality,” said Mr Masango.

“Water is life and is one of the rights enshrined in the constitution of the country.

“We understand the magnitude of work and number of complaints the SAHRC have to deal with, but this is also an urgent matter.

“We will do a follow up on this matter with the SAHRC,” said Mr Masango.

He said the clean and good towns we had before have collapsed and what was working perfectly is now broken and redundant.

Mr Masango said these are the signs of many years of systematic corruption, patronage, nepotism and incompetency by the ANC-governed municipality that are now showing off.

Over the past weeks DA-councillors have been inundated by hundreds of complaints ranging from water leaks and no water, to faulty transformers that exploded and sewer leaks.

He went on saying that for several years the municipality has failed to maintain and replace the ageing infrastructure.

“The DA and a few municipal workers are working day and night trying to fix the recurring problems that are faced by the municipality.

“No amount of changing ANC mayors and municipal managers will save us from the downfall of our infrastructures and our lives,” said Mr Masango.

He said the DA has been left with no other option but to call for the Govan Mbeki Council to be dissolved.

The DA will again write to the SAHRC to request the prioritising of intervention in the municipality’s water and electricity problems.

“Residents are not getting any joy from this ANC-led council.

“This will give the residents a chance to elect a new government led by the DA.

“The DA has a good record of good governance. We therefore as the DA wants to bring real hope and real change to the residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality which the ANC have failed dismally to do.”