SASOLBURG. – The South African Communist Party this morning (22-12-2017) welcomed the election of new SACP Executive Mayor‚ Lindiwe Tshongwe‚ and “new political leadership collective” for the Metsimaholo Municipality.
The recent by-election followed the dissolution of the council in July after it failed to table a budget for the municipality for the 2017/18 financial year‚ which was due on 30 June.
The SACP contested the election under its own banner.
Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo‚ national spokesperson‚ said: “The SACP is pleased that following rigorous consensus seeking consultation and discussions‚ there was convergence‚ in the best interest of the working class and community‚ to build a stable and functional municipality”.
“We call on the new leadership of the municipality to build a responsive‚ efficient and accountable municipality. We equally call on our communities to be active participants and contributors in building a Metsimaholo we want. The municipal leadership should strengthen and deepen ties with the community through ongoing democratic consensus-seeking consultation and delivery of services.”
The ANC’s Thabo Mabasa took the position of speaker.
The position as chief whip of the council went to Metsimaholo Community Association’s (MCA) Victor Nyembe.
The EFF, which hoped to govern its first municipality when it contested the election, fielded candidates for all three positions unsuccesfully.
* Until earlier this year, the municipality was governed by a coalition consisting of the DA, EFF, the MCA and the Freedom Front Plus. The coalition, however, collapsed due to infighting and could not table the municipal budget, after which the Free State Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) took the decision to dissolve the council (on July 6). That step forced the municipality to hold the November by-election.
