SEDIBENG. – Sedibeng Ster’s reports that the ruling party in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), the African National Congress (ANC), has severed ties with the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) and will now be in coalition with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in both the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) and the ELM, have now surely proven to be true.

This follows the appointment of Lehlohonolo Malindi of the (EFF) as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Sports, Recreation, Culture, Arts, Library and Information Services, Parks and Cemeteries in the ELM .

PAC’s Kantso replaced…

He replaces former MMC Mbuyiselo Kantso of the PAC.

Kantso was dismissed from his position as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Agriculture, Local Economic Development Planning and Tourism in the ELM.  

EFF’s Nombuso Njokwe was also appointed as Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Public Safety, Sports, Arts and Culture in the SDM recently.

 The office of the Executive Mayor of ELM, Sipho Radebe, yesterday issued a statement announcing the appointment of two MMC.

 Sefatsa Sefatsa from the ANC has been appointed as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Agriculture, Local Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, and Lehohonolo Malindi (EFF) as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Sports, Recreation, Culture, Arts, Library and Information Services, Parks and Cemeteries.

“The Executive Mayor extends sincere congratulations to both newly appointed MMCs and expresses confidence in their ability to advance the constitutional mandate of local government as contemplated in Section 152 of the Constitution, including the promotion of democratic and accountable governance, sustainable service delivery, social and economic development, and community participation,” the ELM said.

EFF Gauteng welcomes members’ appointment

Meanwhile the EFF in Gauteng welcomed Malindi’s appointment, and said that the appointment of Malindi comes at a critical moment for the people of Emfuleni, a municipality that has, for years, been synonymous with governance collapse, infrastructure decay, financial mismanagement and catastrophic service delivery failures.

“The EFF’s participation in the administration of Emfuleni is informed by the urgent need to stabilise governance and ensure that the municipality begins to respond to the lived realities of residents. The people of the Vaal can no longer continue to endure the indignity of living under collapsing infrastructure and an uncaring municipality while political leaders prioritise factional battles over service delivery. The inclusion of the EFF in governance marks an important shift towards restoring accountability, strengthening oversight and building a municipality that places the needs of communities at the centre of governance. The EFF is entering government not for positions, but to contribute towards resolving the deep social and service delivery crisis confronting the people of Emfuleni.”

In conclusion, the EFF said that Malindi is a committed community activist and grounded leader who has consistently remained close to the struggles of the people on the ground.

Malindi holds an N6 in Business Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management and is currently studying Postgraduate in Public Management.

“ELM requires decisive leadership…”

“His appointment reflects the confidence of the movement in his ability to serve with discipline, humility and commitment to the people of Emfuleni. The EFF remains clear that the crisis in Emfuleni requires decisive political leadership, consequence management against corruption and maladministration, and a complete reorientation of the municipality towards service delivery and development. Our participation in government will never silence the revolutionary voice of the EFF, but will instead strengthen the fight for accountable governance and dignified living conditions for the people of the Vaal.”

Speaking on their coalition with the EFF, ANC Sedibeng Secretary, Jason Mkhwane said, “The Province and National are dealing with the coalition politics and arrangements.”