ANC calls for removal of mayor and speaker in Lekwa
One of the allegations in the document was that the municipality has deliberately stopped functioning, suspending its governance and constitutional responsibility of servicing the people of Lekwa.
The planned Lekwa Shutdown on May 15 was characterised by a strong police presence with a piercing whistle or two and shouts of ‘voetsek’, ‘amandla’ and ‘awethu’ directed at the Lekwa Municipality.
Mbonani Mayisela Street was closed between Kerk and Beyers Naudé streets. The four-way crossing from Secunda was closed early in the morning.
The executive mayor of the Gert Sibande District Municipality, Walter Mngomezulu, took the memorandum from ANC supporters.
The newspaper has a copy of the memorandum in which Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and CoGTa MEC, Mandla Msibi, are cc’d.
Some of the protestors were conspicuously young and only a few umbrellas came out when rain began pouring down.
One of the allegations in the document was that the municipality has deliberately stopped functioning, suspending its governance and constitutional responsibility of servicing the people of Lekwa.
The Standerton Advertiser published the views of the Lekwa Community Forum and two councillors in its edition of May 19.
The memorandum gave prominence to water shortages in Standerton, giving examples of feeding schemes at schools not functioning as they should, water quality and the often-repeated echo of water being a human right.
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The deployment of water trucks was criticised for which R1.5m was quoted monthly.
Buying laptops for 30 councillors was next on the list. According to the memorandum, it was done without council approval. It costs R1.2m. The question was asked about who sanctioned this expenditure.
Alberto Franco, DA councillor, said the past week the council approved the buying of tablets.
The protesters questioned the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for electricity that has not been used fully. An amount of R7m was allegedly sent back to the treasury.
Protestors also queried the fencing of a dumping site, while water and electricity supply are basic needs.
According to Franco most of these allegations are ‘utter nonsense’.
There was a further outcry from the protestors on the amount of R18 000 allegedly daily spent on a high-pressure jet truck.
They also demanded the Lekwa Economic Development Forum be disbanded immediately.
“We need our contractors to employ more Lekwa employees. We need local equipment and service providers for contracts. We need our contractors to buy locally and develop our township economy.”
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The group threatened that outside equipment operating in Lekwa would be stopped unless the equipment is not locally available.
Trucks with goods and materials procured from outside will be stopped as well.
Smart meters were another thorn in the flesh of the group, saying family considerations in the municipality play a role.
Delani Louis Thabethe, the executive mayor, came under attack. The memorandum alleged he is running the Eskom employment desk from his private office.
They also expressed chagrin with the appointment of municipal managers from out of town. “This is mainly done to loot nicely and without a trace.
“A picture is painted that educated and qualified individuals who can be absorbed in the institution, are lacking.”
Finally, a call was made that both the mayor and speaker, Oliver Phiri, be removed immediately.
