The DA calls for the Govan Mbeki Municipal council to be dissolved in accordance with Section 139 (c) of the constitution.
I a statement released today, James Masango, newly elected DA Councillor in Govan Mbeki Municipality, called for the dissolving of the Municipal council.
This comes in the wake of a dysfunctional council where the speaker makes rulings as she pleases. Read the article HERE
It also comes in the wake of crippling power cuts by Rand Water (RW).
The municipality is unable to give any satisfactory answer on the recent water restrictions. The answers range from “The municipality did not pay their account,” to “There is no clear indication on the cuts. RW is playing politics.”
James said in his statement that they will submit a motion to council and also write to the MEC of Cogta, Mandla Msibi to take action in this regard.
Also read: Crumbling municipalities! The DA demands intervention!
“Just this past week alone DA councilors were inundated with over hundred complaints ranging from water leaks, no water, faulty transformers that exploded and sewer leaks. For several years the municipality has failed to maintain and replace the ageing infrastructures.” said James in his statement, “The DA and a few municipal workers are working day and night trying to fix the recurring problems that are faced by the municipality. No amount of changing ANC Mayors and Municipal Managers will save us from the downfall of our infrastructures and our lives.”
Here is the full statement of Cllr James Masango:
The DA will put a motion in the Govan Mbeki Municipality and will write to the MEC of Cogta, Mandla Msibi in accordance to section 139(c) of the constitution to dissolve the Municipal Council.
The motion will be done in accordance to section 34 (1) of the Municipal Structures act, following years of struggle in the Govan Mbeki Municipality with water and electricity problems which are now not only a crisis but also a health hazard and life threatening to the residents.
In 2020, the DA wrote to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to urgently intervene in throttling water to the residents.
With the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic picking up in this municipality and people losing their lives, it is unacceptable that residents can be without water for days especially when residents pay for services rendered by the municipality. The loyal and law abiding citizens of this municipality have to suffer the consequence of the ANC-led municipality failure to pay Rand Water Board.
Water is life and is one of the rights enshrined in the constitution of the country. We understand the magnitude of work and number of complaints the SAHRC have to deal with, but this is also an urgent matter. We will do a follow up on this matter with the SAHRC.
The signs of many years of systematic corruption, patronage, nepotism and incompetency by the ANC governed municipality are showing off now. The clean and good towns we had before have collapsed. What was working perfectly is now broken and redundant.
Just this past week alone DA councilors were inundated with over hundred complaints ranging from water leaks, no water, faulty transformers that exploded and sewer leaks. For several years the municipality has failed to maintain and replace the ageing infrastructures.
The DA and a few municipal workers are working day and night trying to fix the recurring problems that are faced by the municipality. No amount of changing ANC Mayors and Municipal Managers will save us from the downfall of our infrastructures and our lives.
Taking into considerations of the above mentioned, the DA has no option, but to call for the Govan Mbeki Council to be dissolved.
We will also once again write to the SAHRC to request it to prioritize its intervention in the Municipality’s water and electricity problems.
The residents are not getting any joy from this ANC led council. That will give the resident a chance to elect a new government led by the DA. The DA has a good record of good governance.
We therefore as the DA wants to bring real hope and real change to the residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality which the ANC have failed dismally to do.
The Bulletin will bring you more news as actions are taken
