POLOKWANE – The DA on Tuesday tabled a motion of no confidence against embattled Polokwane Mayor John Mpe over corruption allegations and the persistent water crisis.

City gripped by worsening water crisis

The DA highlighted that the city is in the grip of a full-blown water crisis. “Communities across the municipality, including Mankweng, Seshego, the inner city and surrounding villages, are experiencing persistent and often prolonged water outages.

Infrastructure is collapsing and leaks go unrepaired for weeks. Many residents rely on water from sporadic water tanker deliveries, which are surrounded by allegations of mismanagement and politicisation,” they said in a statement.

Despite repeated promises from the mayor, no meaningful progress has been made to restore a sustainable and reliable water supply, the DA claims and adds that residents are being denied their constitutional right to access clean and safe water.

R700m corruption scandal deepens

To exacerbate the water crisis, the municipality is now embroiled in a corruption scandal involving more than R700m in alleged irregular tender awards.

Media reports and whistle-blowers’ claims have directly implicated the mayor and senior officials.

It is further alleged that the Mokoro Foundation, reportedly linked to Mpe, benefitted financially from municipal contract proceeds.

“These allegations are deeply concerning. While the Hawks have launched investigations and raided municipal offices, the mayor continues to dismiss the matter as a political smear, offering no transparency or accountability to the people he serves,” Johann Retters, DA caucus leader in the municipality stated, and added that the residents of Polokwane have lost faith in the ANC-led municipality under the leadership of Mpe.

The city is failing on its most basic responsibilities, water, waste and roads, while its leadership is increasingly focused on damage control rather than delivering services, the DA believes.

“Residents deserve a mayor who is committed to transparency, delivery and clean governance; not one who is in denial of the water crisis, environmental degradation, and allegations of corruption,” the DA emphasises.

Council to debate motion of no confidence

The DA called on all political parties and councillors in the municipal council who care about service delivery and good governance to support the motion.

The DA is confident that, with the support of other parties in the council as well as some ANC councillors who will vote in favour of the motion if a secret vote is allowed, the mayor could be removed from office.

The motion will be debated in the next council meeting.