VANDERBIJLPARK. – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Sedibeng has said that it is not surprised by the action taken by roughly 13 African National Congress (ANC) Councillors in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to shut down the municipality’s main building in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday.

The councillors did this by blocking the main entrances (gates) to the building.

It is said that about 13 ANC ward councilors out of the 38 in the ELM took a decision to close down the main building to raise their concerns with many issues ranging from the unavailability of water in Evaton to the scathing Auditor General’s (AG) report which has painted a not so beautiful picture of the ELM.

The shutdown is said to have also come after a building that the ELM rents was closed down on Monday due to rent non-payment.

EFF’s Sedibeng Sedibeng Regional Chairperson, Isaac Khithika said that it goes without saying that taking the municipality out of administration was a big mistake and that claiming it was stable and able to manage its affairs was misleading.

“We view these acts by the ANC councillors as a bluff and an attention-seeking stunt, Khithika said.

This is because that, he added, there was a motion of no confidence against ELM Executive Mayor, Sipho Radebe which was tabled by small parties on Monday, and that there is an item on appointing the Municipal Manager scheduled.

“The motion is raising the same issues they are raising. If they are not happy with how the mayor with his committee run Emfuleni, they have an opportunity within 14 days to vent that through voting with small parties,” Khithika ended.