It’s an open secret that visits are made to Mbonani Mayisela Street unannounced, no secret that political turmoil is prevalent, but the best-kept secret seems the status of the Lekwa Municipality.
Rumours were flying around since Tuesday, 4 May that the council was dissolved.
A WhatsApp-message to the manager in the office of the mayor, Mr Mandla Mphuthi, at 3.39pm was answered at 3.54pm, only indicating that they are waiting for formal correspondence.
Another message on 5 May said the newspaper will be informed accordingly.
It was interesting to note that a Facebook-message said the president has decided to suspend the municipal manager, HODs, mayor and councillors.
The writer also said the community is barred from participating in ANC-processes.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted three councillors, as well as the Member of Parliament for the DA, Ms Angel Khanyile.
Ms Khanyile could not confirm the veracity of the rumour and undertook to get back to the newspaper.
A question was specifically phrased to the Gert Sibande District Municipality via e-mail on 5 May for comment:
Since putting the municipality under administration involves compliance with Section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution, Section 139 (5) could also come into play.
One councillor said last Wednesday evening that the municipality is still intact.
According to Mr Nicholas Selepe of the Civic Voice, a premier went to the ANC-council caucus on Tuesday and pronounced that the municipality is dissolved, according to Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution of South Africa.
“No correspondence from either the provincial, nor the national government, has been received,” the message read.
“We were also told that the ANC’s provincial executive committee had a virtual meeting with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Ms Jessie Duarte today at noon (Wednesday), where it was confirmed that Lekwa will be dissolved.”
Mr Selepe concluded by saying no such decision is in existence to date.
A phone call was then made on 6 May to the Ms Bongi Dube, spokesman of the district municipality, who referred the newspaper to Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager of Lekwa.
A message was duly sent to Ms Mtshiselwa and the reply about receiving any formal correspondence, was in the negative.
