The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) said this week’s huge power outage in Vanderbijlpark – in addition to other continuing service denials by ELM elsewhere in Emfuleni – were symptomatic of both political intrigue and top management incompetence and negligence.

“Clearly the Zuma Syndrome is at work at ELM – Mayor Gift Moerane has self-isolated due to claimed Covid-19 exposure and now this seems to be an excuse not to exercise his duties and responsibilities specifically with regard to the Municipal Manager’s position.

“But in the meantime business and residents are reeling from continuing maintenance failures by ELM – and that’s with all their sewer infrastructure responsibilities transferred to the Department of Water and Sanitation by instruction of the national Government,” said GTCoC CEO Klippies Kritzinger.

Leseane said this week he had not received any reply to his response to a letter by Moerane on why he should not be suspended and denied access to his working environment due to investigations.

However, ELM Council is in recess, and it is known that Speaker “Chu-Chu Shoes” Maipato Tsokolibane is mobilising against Leseane despite not attending the last two council meetings – and also a known political opponent of Mayor Moerane. Kritzinger was adamant that if Leseane was suspended, then ELM CFO Andile Dyakala also had to be removed to prove an ELM commitment to consequence management. Speaker Tsokolibane is also a staunch ally of Dyakala and has protected him and other incompetents in ELM management.

“Good work is being done by Administrator Gilberto Martins to stabilise rampant financial corruption and negligent mismanagement at ELM by especially the CFO – something that has been going on for years with impunity,” said Kritzinger.

Mayoral Spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng did not respond to requests for information on the awaited formal response to Leseane by Mayor Moerane.