After meetings with the speaker’s office, a petition and a memorandum for the removal of ANC Ward 9 councillor, the residents have decided to take to the streets from Wednesday until he steps down.
The community burnt tyres and barricaded roads with stones in Sonderwater and said they will continue to do so until the ANC ward councillor, Benjamin Ofentse is removed.
According to Justice Moabi, the community leader, the speaker of the J.B. Marks municipality has failed them. ‘He failed to exercise schedule 1, item 13 of the municipal systems Act that deals with the code of conduct for councillors. He was supposed to have authorised an investigation into the councillor’s conduct and take this to the MEC but he never did. We know they are playing games with us to keep the councillor in office,’ he said angrily.
Justice explained that on 8 June, they submitted a memorandum for the councillor to step down within seven days. On 21 June, the speaker’s office responded, saying ‘there is no proof or evidence that the councillor has breached the code of conduct. It would, therefore, be unfair and premature to conclude that there was any form of misconduct as it stands because it is your word against that of the councillor.’
Justice says, starting from Wednesday, they will be taking to the streets until he steps down. ‘He is not performing his duties, he must be removed’ he said.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
The J.B. Marks mayoral spokesperson, Victor Boqo says the executive mayor met with the Ward 9 community over the weekend to listen to their challenges ‘as a caring leader of the community’.
‘SA is a democratic country and the people have the right to protest but the mayor explained to them that they must protest peacefully and not damage property. In ward 9, the mayor promised to come and give them feedback within three weeks after writing a full report to the speaker regarding the removal of the ward councillor,’ he said.
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/41280/ward-9-residents-use-bush-relieve/
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/45923/ward-9-community-demands-removal-councillor/
