Hartswater- The PEC embarked on an extensive process of engagements with the structures of ANC, councilors ftand community members in the Phokwane Municipal area. These engagements commenced early last year when the PEC got a report that the working relationship between the Municipal Mayor, comrade Vuyisile Khen and the Municipal Manager, Moeketsi Dichaba has deteriorated to intolerable levels.

The conflictual relationship between the Mayor and Municipal Manager adversely affected the proper functioning of the municipal. This led a political logjam and the general interest of the community played a second fiddle to political infighting in the municipal.

This political infighting also affected the functioning of ANC branches in the sub-region and divided the Regional Executive Committee. The situation in the Phokwane sub-region was just untenable.

“The tensions in the municipality culminated in the Mayor hastily convening a special Council Meeting last week Thursday (15 January 2015) to put the Municipal Manager on a three months special leave. The ANC is of the view that this decision was not well thought off but an emotional response to the political difficulties confronting the municipality.  The placing of the Municipal Manager on a special leave triggered the intervention by the PEC” ANC Northern Cape spokesperson Zamani Soul.

The PEC also discussed the situation in the municipality with the Secretary General of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe. The SG expressed his disgust at the manner in which the comrades conduct themselves and the affairs of the municipality.

The expectation of the PEC is that 2015 is the penultimate year to the 2016 Local Government and it is crucial for everyone deployed in the local government sector to work towards stabilization of municipalities and to help inputting up measures to improve the performance and service delivery capacity of municipalities.

“This was not happening in the municipality as the comrades deployed to the municipality were overwhelmed by the tensions that found pre-eminence in the municipality, branches and the REC. Based on this, the PWC was left with no other option but to take difficult decisions with far-reaching implications” Saul said.

The PWC took the following decisions with the hope that they will help to restore normality and the dignity of the municipality:

• That, both the Mayor, comrade Vuyisile Khen and the Municipal Manager, comrade Moeketsi Dichaba must resign their positions with immediate effect.
• That, for the time being the current CFO must act as the Municipal Manager until the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs second a senior official to act as the Municipal Manager while the recruitment process for the appointment of the Municipal Manager is underway.
• That, comrade Dibuang Meza, who is a serving councillor, must be appointed as the acting Mayor of the municipality, while the PEC is processing the issue of the final deployment of the Mayor for the municipality.
• That, all the powers relating to governance matters delegated to the REC of Frances Baard Region by the PEC in terms of Rule 21.10 of the ANC Constitution are revoked.

“The PWC hopes that this intervention will bring the long-desired stability and also restore the dignity of the municipality. The only measure of success for the intervention will be the extent to which the municipality will manage to increase its capacity to swiftly respond to the developmental challenges in the municipality. Yesterday we met with all ANC branches, the leagues and the leadership from the broader Alliance Movement in the Phokwane sub-region and they all welcomed the decision and committed to respect it and work towards improving the situation in the municipality.

“It is important to note that both the Mayor and Municipal Manager have resigned. The former Mayor and Municipal Manager are resourceful comrades and have acquired extensive knowledge over the past years. The Mayor has been a Councillor since 1994 and the Municipal Manager has ascended through the ranks of the municipality to occupy the highest administrative position and is in possession of a Masters Degree from the University of the Free State. Therefore it will be appropriate for the ANC to utilise their skills and knowledge in other strategic areas in government to improve the quality of life of the people of the Northern Cape” he said.

-TDN

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