Vhembe elects new mayor, councillors
The new entity in Vhembe district, which includes some parts of Vuwani in Makhado and Thulamela, Lim 345 now has a new mayor, Joyce Bila.
LIMPOPO – Bila promised to deliver better services to the communities she will serve.
She stated this shortly before she was elected as the new mayor and was sworn in by the Malamulele Magistrate, Dan Maluleke, during a glamorous inauguration ceremony.
“We will work with councillors from other political parties to bring services to the people. We will try to deliver on our promises and give the communities what they have been asking for,” she said.
The new Speaker, Elvis Lebea, and Chief Whip, Miyelani Chauke, were also sworn in during the ceremony. The ANC has 25 seats, EFF six, and DA two, while Ximoko and ACDP each have one seat in the new council after the recent municipal elections.
The Chairperson of the Vhembe House of Traditional Leaders, Chief Busa Nxumalo, congratulated the new mayor.
“We hope to work well with the newly elected mayor to steer development in our communities. As traditional leaders, we are working directly with the communities and hope that along with the new councillors of Lim 345 municipality we will be able to speak with one voice,” said Nxumalo.
The majority of residents in Malamulele are calling for the Department of Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) to register the area as Collins Chabane Municipality.
According to the ANC Spokesperson for the Vhembe region, Joseph Chauke, the ANC has taken the decision to honour the late minister for the contribution he has made in the struggle for freedom in the country.
Ellah Chabani-Chauke, Collins Chabane’s sister, said the family is honoured about the steps taken in order for the municipality to be named after the late Collins Chabane as a humble servant of South Africans. Ximoko Party Leader, Aura Choki Baloyi, urged ANC councillors to stop factionalism and take service delivery to the people during their term in council.
