By REGINALD KANYANE
The newly-appointed executive mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Motseokae “Sense” Maje aims to change the bad image of the municipality. This comes after councillors and municipal officials at the embattled municipality, embarked on a four-day session of strategic planning in Parys recently.
“The aim of this initiative is to look into the mission and vision of the institution in order to ensure that they are still relevant. It is about time that negative images and practices associated with the municipality are rooted out for its own credibility.
“The municipality has the necessary internal capacity to live up to the point of reference and realise its intended objectives. However, we have become the laughing stock in the province for some time now,” he said.
Maje further said the municipality will improve on its provision of clean and drinkable water including sanitation. He added that the employees play a crucial role in ensuring that the municipality becomes ‘a force to be reckoned with’.
“We need to ensure that the employees bring back the decorum of this administration by ensuring that the work ethic of our personnel is brought back to where it is supposed to be. Working together with both internal and external stakeholders, we are going to root out maladministration and corruption that hindered us from returning to our former glory.
“To this effect, the new administration will continuously engage with all unions represented in this municipality such as SAMWU and IMATU. We need to ensure that their members adhere to the code of conduct as aligned in the Municipal System Act and the Disciplinary Collective Agreement,” said Maje.
He sent a stern warning to employees against being involved in any corruptive activities. Maje said these wayward actions will further derail the municipality on its mission to improve the lives of the masses.
The municipality was considered to be dysfunctional and listed as one of the worst performing municipalities in the country.
“If there is anyone among us, who still thinks or has a wayward illusion that things are going to remain the same, I urge them to reconsider their decision. Please, make a meaningful contribution towards the realisation of the aim and objectives of the new administration or make way for those who are prepared to do so.
“There is a need for the government to create a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment and create an environment, which people can live a better life. We have set ourselves a target to create jobs and combat poverty based on the economic and reconstruction programme,” he said.
Maje added: “I must also highlight that the government has put in place measures to unleash the potential of small businesses, micro businesses and informal businesses. I believe that economic recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic should be geared towards supporting SMMEs in this district.
“This will create the much needed income and job opportunities. We must continue to engage with our social partners through the District Development Model (DDM) approach as part of the social compact process to achieve the municipality’s desired objectives,” concluded Maje.
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