By OBAKENG MAJE
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in North West welcomed the disbandment of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg. This comes after the North West Premier, Bushy Maape allegedly took a decision to dismantle the municipality last night.
The situation at the embattled municipality has been dysfunctional, despite numerous attempts by the North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs to solicit the situation.
The municipality had two mayors, two speakers, and two acting municipal managers. In July 2022, the municipal employees were prohibited by a newly appointed security company’s bouncers from entering the municipal buildings.
This irked some municipal employees, who clashed with the security guards, and gunshots were discharged in the process.
COSATU provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said: “We have learned with excitement that the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) has last night taken a decision to disband the municipal council.
“This is a move we welcome as COSATU as that council has failed from its inception in 2021 and has always been marred with infighting amongst the councillors.”
Konopi said the immediate task for the ANC in the province is to apply rule 25 of the ANC constitution to its members, who have been deployed in that council and have contributed to the collapse of the municipality. He said this conduct has put the ANC in disrepute.
“COSATU also calls on the ANC to immediately set up all-inclusive election machinery to start to prepare for the by-election, which will come in the next 90 days.
“While doing that, the ANC should make sure that no one who has ever played a role in the shenanigans, which have been taking place in that municipality makes it into its list.
“As COSATU, we would also call on the law enforcement agencies to closely monitor the situation in that municipality, as we know that it has a potential to deteriorate into chaos which might be driven by some anarchists,” he said.
Maape is expected to address the media on the municipality saga at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement, and Traditional Affairs, Aaron Mocwana said then that, the political interference, maladministration, misappropriation of funds, and corruption have contributed to the demise of the municipality.
“The municipality is in distress and experiencing systemic dysfunctionality. There is also resistance to intervention due to hasty political interference in administrative issues. The instability in the municipality can be traced back to 2006.
“There is also lawlessness at the municipality, where Supply Chain Management (SCM) issues are openly being discussed by councillors. The municipal council is also sitting on top of the Public Protector and Forensic report findings that need to be implemented, but that is not happening.” Motswana said.
The Guardian 