Modimolle-Mookgophong mayor speaks out

The mayor of Modimolle/Mookgophong Marlene Van Staden addressed residents of Modimolle on Monday, 11 June on the state of affairs in the struggling municipality.

The community of Modimolle converged on the Phagameng Township based Ephraim Mogale Stadium, for an Imbizo which was called by the local mayor and her entourage.

Van Staden told members of the community that council has approved the decision to invoke sections 151 and 152 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which allows the municipality to
apply to the high court for an order to stall all legal proceedings by the municipality’s creditors, including Eskom.

Should the legal attempts by the provincial government succeed, then the council can be able to stop Eskom’s intention to cut power supplies with effect from 29 June.

“The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) appointed a state attorney to act on our behalf. The state attorney in turn appointed two senior counsels who will be assisting the municipality,” she said.

Van Staden said the advocates are currently preparing all necessary documents, and hopefully the high court application will commence sometime next week.

Another reason for the meeting was to enlighten the community on the recent decision taken by the provincial government to intervene in accordance with section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution.

Through this level of intervention, the provincial government will appoint an administrator who will assume all the responsibilities of the municipal manager in the embattled
Modimolle/Mookgophong Municipality.

“In addition, council resolved to hear a presentation on the provincial government’s report on the state of the municipality, before considering the MEC’S suggestion that a forensic investigation be conducted at the municipality,” she said.

The budget was also elaborated on, with the mayor citing that council has drawn up the budget for the 2018-2019 financial year, with the help of provincial treasury officials.

The budget was to be presented before the council on Thursday 21 June for final approval.

– The BEAT