eMBALENHLE – Nine ANC ward councillors are allegedly threatening to step down if the service delivery crisis is not addressed.
The disgruntled ward councillors from eMbalenhle have decided to excuse themselves from Govan Mbeki Municipal activities because they are unhappy with service delivery issues in the area.
They did not attend the ANC caucus on 25 April and were also absent from the council meeting that was held on 26 April.
It is alleged that the councillors expressed their views and dissatisfaction with Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, speaker of the council, at a meeting held recently about service delivery, but they could not find a solution.
The Ridge Times was informed that the councillors have threatened to step down if the ANC does not attend to their issues.
It is alleged that the councillors are concerned because when locals do not receive services, they direct their anger towards them.
Angry residents who were protesting in Ext 26, blocked roads and burned tyres over power outages.
They went to the house of the ward councillor, Mr Themba Lukhele, and burned the gate to his yard.
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The Ridge Times contacted him for comment. He did not want to comment and referred the newspaper to Council.
Mr Zuma confirmed that he had a meeting with the councillors.
“They indeed voiced their frustrations over service delivery matters in the area and we advised them to follow the right channels to raise these issues.
“Now that they are excluding themselves from the activities of the council, the party must hold them accountable.
“I cannot comment further as their party is handling the matter.”
Service delivery has been a serious problem in the area and several protests were held against poor service delivery.
The municipal buildings were burned by angry protesters in October.
The biggest challenge is the municipal Eskom and Rand Water debt.
The ANC was not available for comment at time of going to press.
The Sakhisiwe Progressive Movement (Sapromo) also called on the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to put Govan Mbeki Municipality under administration.
The party’s president, Mr Sibusiso Hlolweni, recently wrote a letter to the MEC of Cogta, Mr Speedy Mashilo, and expressed his party’s views about the state of the municipality.
Mr Hlolweni said the current state of the municipality suggests that Council is not in any way able to run the municipality efficiently and effectively.
He said the municipality is failing dismally to deliver its objectives as stipulated in Section 152 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of South Africa.
“I hereby kindly request the MEC of the province to intervene in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution as the municipality is failing to fulfil many of its executive obligations. These obligations include, but are not limited to, sound financial management, providing uninterrupted sustainable services and sound and fair administration.
“I therefore propose that the provincial executive council assumes the executive obligations and responsibilities as mandated to the municipal manager by Section 55 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, as well as the powers and functions allocated to the executive mayor in terms via Section 56 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, and does the same in the administrator.
“The recent audit suggests misconduct which can be found in the report of the Auditor General.”
Mr Hlolweni said Council has failed to appoint a municipal manager for more than a year.
He said Mr Thisha Mhlanga has been acting after many attempts to appoint a municipal manager.
“The municipality is not financially stable due to the Eskom and Rand Water accounts that are hardly serviced.
“Failure to put in place an administrator to take over the executive obligations may result in the municipality being declared bankrupt and residents will struggle to get basic services such as water and electricity.”
The party previously also tabled a motion of no confidence in the executive mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono. It however failed.
He vowed that his party will do anything to defend the rights of the residents.
Cogta did not comment at time of going to press.
