By BAKANG MOKOTO

Economic Freedom Fighters in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region embarked on a peaceful march to the Greater Taung Local Municipality demanding the improved service delivery on Wednesday. EFF regional secretary, Justice Dabampe said they marched against collapsed service delivery.

“We submitted the memorandum of demand to the municipality demanding that all vacant posts be filled with immediate effect. We also demand that the preference be given to local people who qualify.

“As EFF, we also demand that all security guards be sourced-in by the end of October 2020 and all security guards who their contracts are said to be terminated be hired without failure by the end of October 2020,” Dabampe said.

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He added that all security guards be paid a minimum of R7 500 effective from 1 November 2020. Dabampe further said Tsholofelo Moepeng who is employed by the municipality and who is also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Vaaltar FM be investigated for non-disclosure of getting 20% commission.

“We also demand that all sport facilities be handed over to the communities by the end of October 2020 too. All informal settlements in Taung must be formalised without failure by the end of October 2020.

“As EFF, we demand that all high mast lights in Taung be switched on and maintained by the end of October 2020. We call on the municipality that all internal roads be paved and named by the end of October 2020,” he said.

Dabampe said that every household in Taung must have piped water by the end of October 2020 and all municipal vehicles should be used only for official municipal work.

“All villages must have high mast lights by the end of November 2020 and all community parks must be secured. There must be satellite offices in all clusters in Taung by the end of November 2020 and all houses be electrified by the end of November 2020.

“The municipality must ensure that all unoccupied built houses must have beneficiaries with immediate effect and all patrollers are sourced-in by the end of November 2020. We demand that all municipal economic hubs built be handed over to their respective communities by the end of October 2020,” said Dabampe.

Dabampe added that the Dryharts Community Hall be demolished because it is not safe for public use. He said that the municipality writes to the district and demand that all informal settlements be given toilets.

“All cleaners must be sourced-in particularly Ms Seodigeng who has been with the municipality for more than five years. We demand flushing toilets in all the municipal yards by the end of November 2020.

“Basic services must be provided for free to all indigents and that the municipality should build sporting facilities in all villages. The municipality must ensure that people of Reivilo buy electricity direct from Eskom and the municipal offices in Reivilo be opened from 7am till 4pm daily,” said Dambampe.

He added that there should be job creation on a permanent basis and municipal inspectors do their job and close shops that are non-compliant. EFF said they give the municipality seven days to respond to their demands.

Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane accepted the memorandum and said they will respond accordingly.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Former Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality’s Technical Services Director has been served with a subpoena by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) to appear in court for alleged contravention of Section 171(3) read with Section 77 and 78 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

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The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspect (44) allegedly single-handedly took on supply chain processes by sourcing quotations and invoices from service providers, then went further to recommend and approve payments for his office furniture back in 2014.

“The transaction was allegedly finalised in one day and approximately R504 143 was paid to the service provider.  The suspect is expected to make his first court appearance on 20 November 2020 at the Christiana Magistrate’s Court,” Rikhotso said.

The Hawks continue to crack the whip in quest of combating corruption and the former Director is the fifth municipal official to be arrested in the province. In a related matter, the mayor of JB Marks municipality Kgotso Khumalo and the Director of municipal services and Local Economic Development (LED), Cyril Hendry appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft and fraud last week Friday after being arrested by the Hawks.

The duo was released on warning, while the third man facing eight charges of theft and fraud involving municipal funds handed himself over on Monday. In another incident, the former acting Municipal Manager at Ratlou Local Municipality, Cassius Sejake (55) was arrested by the Hawks for allegedly flouting tender processes to the value of R7.8 million between 2018 and 2019.

Sejake appeared at Atamelang Magistrate’s Court where he was granted R5000 bail. His case was postponed to November 27 and transferred to the Atamelang Regional Court.

Meanwhile, the acting mayor at Ratlou, Mamoitsadi Phaedi said: “As the municipality, we have noted the arrest and allegations leveled against Sejake and we do not support any acts of corruption, mismanagement, or abuse of the public funds and would like to urge all the parties involved in this matter to give the law enforcement agencies a chance to do their job whilst at the same time co-operating with the investigations.”

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