eMBALENHLE – ANC Youth League said they are done with the older people who have been leading Govan Mbeki Municipality since the dawn of democracy.
This was said in the consultative meeting with its local branches held at Kgotso Hall at eMbalenhle on 5 April.
Youth league members said they are tired of corruption that has lead to a state of bankruptcy in the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
“Young people must get positions in the local and district municipalities, and the league is also eyeing positions in the provincial and national legislatures.
“We are tired of watching the older people messing up our institutions like Govan Mbeki Municipality.”
Mr Gracious Shabangu, Ward 14 branch secretary, urged young people who are “in the pockets of elderly people” to realise that they are being used.
“They are promised tenders in order to forget about their needs and focus on little money they get from projects which doesn’t sustain them.
“Others are being placed on the Extended Public Work Program (EPWP),which is an exploitation.” said Mr Shabangu.
The Youth League said tender corruption must stop and that this is the reason elders want to hold on to positions until they die. The league claims that they have received complains from service providers that before they get paid for services rendered, officials always want to know what is in it for them or how much a service provider will give them.
“This has been going on for too long. Officials are employed to pay people who are doing business with our municipality, but they must be bribed to do their work.
“They are the reason why our local businesses do not grow.”
The ANCYL of eMbalenhle is opposed to the council’s decision to appeal the High Court ruling on Mr Felani Mndebele, suspended municipal manager, who won against Govan Mbeki Municipality.
They are happy with Mr Mndebele being the municipal manager, because he is a local person from Bethal who is qualified for the position.
The ANCYL wants those pushing for an appeal to foot the court costs themselves.
“We agree that the current executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma is doing better, though we can’t guarantee that he will come back as a mayor after the coming local government elections, because the ANC has its own processes.
“We have our own mayoral candidate that will be announced in due course,” concluded Mr Shabangu.
The League said it warns the ANC, regional and provincial leaders who always dictate on how Govan Mbeki Municipality must run its own affairs, to start realising that their time is over.
