POLOKWANE – “No one will be able to convince the Bulls to come and play here for a charity match to get money for bursaries, no one else will get business people to give up a day to play golf for charity; no one.”
This is the lament of a source close to the much beloved mayor of Polokwane, Freddy Greaver, after Review reported of the mayor’s resignation.
The source said Greaver focused on the whole municipality, not just parts of the municipality and had “excellent relationships with traditional leaders, business owners and ordinary people alike”.
“He is selfless and I am afraid of what employees’ reactions will be when he announces his resignation.”
Greaver was expected to formally table his resignation this afternoon. According to protocol, the resignation of a mayor has to be tabled and accepted by council before an announcement could be made. A council meeting was scheduled for today (Tuesday).
Greaver was not recalled as was the case with four other Limpopo mayors who have been recalled by the ANC last week. ANC provincial secretary, Nocks Seabi, confirmed this last week.
An independent political analyst, Elvis Masoga told Review last week it would be a blunder on the side of the ANC should Greaver be recalled, as he was doing an excellent job as Polokwane mayor.
Masoga said Greaver was “the one mayor who should stay”.
Greaver’s loyalty to the ANC could never be questioned and he has been outspoken in his commitment to clean governance throughout his tenure.
Greaver initiated many projects and set the city on the path to financial recovery.
He focused on better service delivery and successfully established events where money was raised for bursaries, as well as welfare organisations in the municipal area.
Greaver also did his best to make the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex more viable by ensuring soccer matches and Super Rugby fixtures were played at the complex.
He was voted Newsmaker of the Year in 2011 by the Polokwane Chamber of Business for making the headlines in a positive way.
He was also voted most pro-active mayor during the annual PMR awards ceremony last year.
