Mokopane residents ‘fed up with the municipality’
The community of Mokopane held a meeting on Tuesday evening concerning Mogalakwena Municipality's poor service delivery and the way forward.
MOKOPANE – The Chairperson of the Mogalakwena Concerned and Affected Communities, Motlatso Selomo said it is the first time in Mokopane’s history that people of all races in the community came together and joined hands to make a positive way forward for the town. “I am deeply moved and appreciate it and a special thanks go to Marcelle Maritz for bringing the white community on board.”
According to Selomo, service delivery went down the drain from 2014 as well as all the money, sustainability and healthy economy of Mokopane. “This year in April we decided that enough is enough. We cannot stand by and see how our town is run down by corruption and criminals. We have established the organization Mogalakwena Concerned and Affected Communities (MCAC) that is not political and that can be the communities’ mouthpiece for their concerns and complaints.”
According to Selomo it is clear that the municipality does not carry the town and communities’ well-being at heart and their complaints fell on deaf ears.
Percy Nketsi, Coordinator of the MCAC, said there is a political cartel in the Mogalakwena Municipality that runs this municipality as they please and for self-enrichment, they decide who is employed, who gets what and when.
Gido de Mendonca asked: “Can’t we get rid of these people who are the culprits for the state that the Municipality is in?” Danie Venter said: “There are many hands in the cookie jar in the municipality with accomplices through to the police. This is a battle that will not be won overnight and it will need everyone in the community to stand together.”
Business owner, Elita Jansen van Vuuren said: “We all agree that it is time to stand together. We must agree on what we are going to do to take the municipality back. If it is needed the town needs to shut down for a day, or we need to take to the streets and march. I do not know what action should be taken, but something has to be done urgently.”
Former Municipal worker, Irene de Villiers, made the suggestions that a petition must be drafted and approved and people should be put in place to handle the administrative duties. “The business people of Mokopane need to get on board. The next step will affect them and they should attend the community meetings. We need to investigate the correct and legal way to stop paying for service delivery that will affect the community of Mogalakwena in the least way. We need to get the national media on board and lastly, William Kekana must be reinstated as the Municipal Manager of Mogalakwena. ”
Everyone voted in favour of the steps to be taken and the date for the next meeting was set for 18 July at Casa Feliz, 101 Thabo Mbeki Street, at 17:00 for 17:30.
All business owners and the community are invited to attend this meeting in order to bring changes to the municipality for the better.
The municipality’s Chief Operations Manager, Hendrik Ngoepe, was not in the office and will reply next week on the points of concern that were raised.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
