Emfuleni mayor accused of idling while municipality crumbles

The mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal Triangle, Sipho Radebe, escaped a vote of no confidence by the opposition by a whisker this week as attempts to unseat him intensify.

While the motion was unsuccessful as 33 councillors voted in favour, 41 against and 14 abstained, the three parties that initiated it – the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), the New Horizon Movement and the Vaal Alternative – vowed that the battle to oust Radebe was not over.

‘Dithering’

The ANC mayor was accused of dithering while his municipality is crumbling, with residents collecting drinking water from sewer pipes because taps are dry.

Many residents have resorted to collecting their own rubbish and dumping it anywhere because refuse collection and removal had come to a complete halt. Ironically,

Emfuleni is neighbouring the excellently governed Midvaal Local Municipality, run by the Democratic Alliance.

The rot is not new at Emfuleni as in the past its assets were seized by the sheriff, including vehicles crucial for service delivery.

READ MORE: More coalition instability: Embattled Emfuleni municipality likely to become mayorless

Probe

A South African Human Rights Commission probe found Emfuleni’s failure to provide water and electricity violated the constitutional rights of the residents.

Lately, the municipality produced R2 billion in unauthorised expenditure, while Eskom recently attached its assets for not honouring an arrangement to pay its R386 million debt.

PAC councillor Mbuyiselo Kantso said they observed a lack of accountability, transparency and effective communication from the mayor.

“The Auditor-General (AG) The AG’s report found the municipality’s ability to continue as a going concern is doubtful. It also established irregular expenditure amount to R232 million, wasteful and fruitless expenditure at more than R827 million, while unauthorised expenditure were more than R2 billion.

PAC secretary-general Apa Pooe said although Radebe survived the motion, he enjoyed a minority support from all councillors.

Similarly, its municipal manager was appointed by a minority among the councillors. “The PAC remains committed towards ensuring that there is quality service delivery in Emfuleni,” Pooe said.

At least 10 ward councillors from various areas of the municipality recently blocked the entrance to the municipal building, saying they had enough of poor service delivery.

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– erin@citizen.co.za