The Sekhukhune District Municipality’s (SDM) council elected Cllr Minah Bahula as its executive mayor, uncontested, during a special council meeting at the Moses Mabotha Hall in Ga-Nchabeleng on November 17.
She takes over from the former interim mayor, Maleke Mokganyetji, who had resigned, according to the SDM.Cllr Kgwediyebotse Chego will remain as the council speaker, and the former Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality mayor, Johannes Phokane, will also remain as the chief whip.
Bahula is the former Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality mayor, and is currently the deputy chairperson of the Sekhukhune ANC.
She brings a wealth of experience, having been in various positions in local government since 1998. Upon her election, she announced her councillors to serve as members of the mayoral committee.
Bahula said she accepts this mammoth responsibility and that she is fully aware of the myriad of challenges that lie ahead in the district, especially the reports of malfeasance and corruption that continue to haunt the district.
“We must combat corruption wherever it rears its ugly head. Good governance is our collective responsibility. Our people expect everyone to be accountable, responsive and transparent in the execution of services. Our people deserve better.”
The executive mayor also reminded her colleagues in council of the district development model’s presidential imbizo held recently in Ga-Motodi, where residents bemoaned the lack of services, especially the scarcity and lack of water.
“Our people are running out of patience. The immediate task is to assess the failures of the already established water schemes and ailing infrastructure in the district, as well as resuscitating water committees in all the wards. It can’t be business as usual. We are going to turn things around.”
Other matters of importance were the call to collaboratively clamp down on illegal spaza shops that continue to ravage communities through trading fake goods and expired goods.
“It’s a matter to be attended to by closely working with law enforcement authorities and other relevant sectors, and tightening of municipal by-laws across the district.”
