eMBALENHLE – Nine disgruntled ANC councillors are calling on locals to rally behind them as they are engaged in a fight against poor municipal service delivery and corruption in the area.
They have decided to boycott Govan Mbeki Municipality until provincial and national government intervene.
Speaking at a press conference on 2 May at the former municipal buildings that were torched in October during a service delivery protest, Mr John Nkosi, Ward 31 councillor, said they requested a meeting with Troika that includes municipal leaders, on 27 April.
He said Troika was arrogant and rude to them at the meeting.
Mr Nkosi was disappointed because the leadership did not listen to them and questioned the meaning of the meeting.
“They called us names and were not willing to hear our grievances.
“The meeting collapsed because there was no cooporation and we decided to stay away from the council’s activities.
“We cannot continue to sit in meetings while the community is suffering. This council has forgotten the people.”
The councillors said service delivery deteriorates daily and Council no longer has the capacity to run the municipality.
They raised concerns over electricity problems, sewage spillages, waste removal backlogs, the state of roads and the billing system.
Mr Douglas Mahlangu, Ward 9 councillor, said residents are suffering and it puts the councillors under pressure because the residents direct their anger at them.
“Our lives are threatened. We live among our people and whenever there are power outages, the first action they take is to come to our homes.
“We have decided to take a stand against the injustices and we urge the leadership to remember those who have voted for them.
“No izimbizos have been held to update residents on the state of the municipality.
“The former mayor and the current mayor have never gone to the people to introduce themselves and to speak to them.
“How can you lead people who you do not know and how can you connect with their struggles if you do not even meet with them?
“These are the things that anger the community and result in riots.”
Mr Mahlangu said though there is no money, they often hear that companies have been paid without the proper procedures being followed.
The councillors intend to go to Luthuli House to speak to the ANC’s Top Six about the problems.
They slammed their colleagues who did not want to join them in the stay-away and called them cowards and sell-outs.
Mr Sabelo Sikhakhane, ANC regional spokesman, said the party is following its internal processes.
“We are engaging with all ANC structures to find a way forward.
“The regional executive committee of the region of the ANC will also meet to discuss this matter and we can only comment afterwards.”
The councillors said though they were aware that the region intended to charge them for ill-discipline, they will not back down.
