eMBALENHLE – The ANC G9-councillors have united with their colleagues after the conflict which took almost a year to resolve.
In March last year, the nine ward councillors from eMbalenhle decided to excuse themselves from all Govan Mbeki municipal activities because they were unhappy with the service delivery issues in the area.
They conducted numerous community meetings in various wards to inform residents of their decision and called for their support.
Messrs John Nkosi, Vusi Mbokazi, Ace Vilakazi, Mandla Thabethe, Mshini Mahlangu, Douglas Mahlangu, Themba Lukhele, Ms Mantoa Motloung and Ms Lindiwe Sithole, vowed not to back down until the service delivery issues have been addressed.
They were later joined by three other councillors, one from Leandra and two from eMzinoni.
These councillors rallied behind the community to challenge service delivery issues in the area which resulted in a service delivery protest.
Together with the community, they embarked on the protest which resulted in the removal of the former municipal manager, Mr Thisha Mhlanga, after the intervention of Ms Refilwe Mtsweni, Premier of Mpumalanga.
They were also calling on the municipality to relinquish electricity back to Eskom, considering the huge debt that is currently owed to Eskom.
The opposition parties including the Sakhisizwe Progressive Movement, Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance took this as a chance to call for the removal of the executive mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono.
However, the G9-councillors did not attend those council meetings and staged a walkout.
Since the beginning of 2019 there had been instabilities in council as the councillors did not see eye-to-eye.
At one stage the speaker of council, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, had to adjourn the council meeting due to disruptions.
In the recent council meeting held on Thursday, 28 March, the mood was jubilant and vibrant as the ANC councillors were singing struggle songs in celebration of their unity.
This resulted in the motion of the vote of no confidence against the mayor, falling off after all the ANC councillors voted against it.
The opposition parties did not take this well and lambasted the ANC councillors. They claimed that the councillors are not concerned about the community, but only themselves.
The DA caucus leader, Ms Ciska Jordaan, criticised the ANC’s unity and said it is at the expense of the taxpayer and the residents of Govan Mbeki who will continue to suffer under the rule of the executive mayor, who has brought this municipality to its knees.
She said several ANC councillors were suppressed through intimidation and threats of removal of office while others were allegedly bought over financially, resulting in them not supporting the DA’s motion of no confidence.
“What’s concerning is that in the same council meeting a draft budget with a deficit of over R100-mil, and the auditor general’s ghastly report reflecting a disclaimer of opinion, was also pushed through by the majority party, to the disapproval of the DA.
“The DA maintains that the ANC remains all talk and no action, as these concerning reports continues to be responded to with nonchalant turnaround strategies originating, this time, all the way from the provincial treasury.
“It is clear that the ANC only cares for its own and will walk over anyone and anything to keep its hands on the coffers of the state.
“We will continue to expose those who seem to think they are untouchable, expose those who seem to insult the intelligence of the people they serve by delivering food parcels and RDP houses without title deeds for the first time since they have been appointed.”
The G9-councilliors distanced themselves from the allegations that they were bribed and the said they have managed to resolve their differences with their colleagues.
The councillors will soon issue a press statement to update the community on the matter.
The EFF and Sapromo were not available for comment at the time of going to press.
