On Friday, the municipal council yet again failed to adopt a motion to elect a municipal manager. This vacancy in the municipality since 2019 is said to hamper the municipality's efforts to render service delivery for residents who are mostly disgruntled with the municipality about sewerage spillage issues, among others. Opposition parties have criticised the processes the municipality seeks or fails to follow for the appointment of the municipal manager.

The FF Plus councillor, Abraham Visagie, tells OFM News that opposition parties were not satisfied that all the legislative processes were followed and adhered to.

He says on 25 October 2022 they had requested that the council receive all outstanding documentation pertaining to the application and meetings of the selection panel. Visagie says opposition parties demand to be part of the committee which will recommend a suitable candidate for the vacant position.

“We could not satisfy ourselves that all the legislative processes were followed and adhered to. On the 25th we requested that the council receive all outstanding documentation pertaining to the application and meetings of the selection panel. Not only to ensure that the applicant disclosed everything on his application but also to verify that the panel adhered to timeframes. On Friday the 28th, we were informed that we will not receive any documentation, besides the report that was tabled," Visagie adds.

The opposition parties in the council, including the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and EFF, among others, have since released a joint statement. In the statement, the parties have commented on the efforts to work together through a series of meetings and ensure that the community of Moqhaka is protected from the abuse of power that has become a tendency throughout the municipality.

Visagie adds that “since the House was heavily divided, the only solution would have been to divide the House and vote on the matter, but numerous motions to divide the House was refused or lead by the Speaker in a direction that we could not arrive at an opportunity to vote”. 

The municipality is yet to comment.

OFM News