“The municipality hereby categorically deny all social media posts insinuating that the ELM Lead Administrator, Gilberto Martins has prioritized one race of service providers over another”.
In a statement ELM’s spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni said: “The municipality harbours no intention of subscribing to racial discrimination to any kind across all its operations particularly relating to the payment of service providers ELM remains committed to jealously guarding and advancing the interests of local SMMEs.”
ELM’s financial woes were worsened by the attachment of the municipal bank account whereby the municipality could not pay its creditors for a period of over five months.
“The situation strained working relationships between the municipality and its service providers. ELM has initiated a process of prioritising key service provides critical to improving service delivery efforts of the municipality.
Old creditors who have not been paid in the last 18 months will also be prioritised.”
The municipality is pleading for patience and cooperation from all affected creditors in this regard.”
