POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Council held its final sitting today, marking the end of a five-year term led by Welheminah Modiba in the absence of mayor John Mpe, who is said to be recovering from an illness.

One of the shortest sittings in the council chambers since 2021 is set to end after the announcement of the results of the local government election, taking place exactly a week from today, on November 4.

Call for a fair electoral process

The whip of council Adolph Rapetswa told the house, made up of representatives from various political parties, that residents still expected all contesting parties to engage in a fair electoral process.

“This is by ensuring that we tolerate each other as we will be campaigning for different political parties,” Rapetswa said.

Service delivery gains acknowledged

Meanwhile, the member of the mayoral committee for community safety, Joosuf Pemma, doubling as acting mayor, came in just before Modiba to address the group, insisting the council had gone from strength to strength regarding service delivery, despite the fact that “still much more needs to be done”.

“Water provision has improved, a private hospital has been built, shopping centres, roads and infrastructure has improved, high masts and street lights, many made out of solar panels, and many more have been accomplished from the decisions taken by this council,” he noted.

Pemma acknowledged that it had not been perfect, crediting municipal manager Thuso Nemugumoni for having traversed “an uneasy journey and always being on her case in terms of improving the state of municipal administration”.

Modiba noted that members of council would remain in office until the announcement of the election results, urging members to continue with their work.