SEDIBENG.– The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has confirmed he is investigating a complaint about serious vote manipulation in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM).

The Freedom Front Plus (VF+) lodged the formal complaint following an adjustment budget meeting in March, and the Hlabisa has now referred the matter to the Gauteng MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, for further action.

According to VF+ councillor, Gerda Senekal, 83 councillors were present at the meeting. The party’s records show that 42 councillors voted in favour of the budget, 40 voted against it, and one abstained.

“The Speaker, Sibongile Soxusa, however, announced that 46 councillors had voted in favour and 37 against the adjustment budget. Since a simple majority of 46 votes was required, this announcement allowed the budget to be adopted. As soon as the meeting was concluded, the VF+ stated that the result was either miscounted or deliberately manipulated and that the adoption of the budget is, consequently, unlawful.”

Senekal said the party expects Mamabolo to probe the matter thoroughly and overturn the irregular result.

“Transparency and accountability in municipal processes are of critical importance. Residents may not be harmed by unlawful council decisions. The ANC may not get away with undermining democratic processes.”

In a separate development, the ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team announced last night that Finance MMC Hassan Mako is its candidate for Executive Mayor. Mako is set to replace former Executive Mayor Sipho Radebe, who was fired by the ruling party last week after a disastrous term in office.

The Provincial Task Team is an interim structure appointed by the National Executive Committee to manage and stabilise dysfunctional regional structures.

The ELM Council is scheduled to sit today to officially elect the new mayor, following two previous council sittings that failed to happen because ANC councillors did not show up.