The FF Plus engaged with all three levels of government this week to ensure that the ANC-controlled Matlosana Local Municipality (Hartbeesfontein, Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein) is held accountable for the fast-deteriorating situation in the Municipality.
Intervention at Matlosana is urgently needed before the decline of basic service delivery and the deterioration of municipal infrastructure reach a point of no return.
On provincial level, the FF Plus has already requested the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mmoloki Chailwe, to take urgent action.
On national level, the FF Plus MP responsible for COGTA (Michal Groenewald) sent a request to the Deputy Minister, Obed Bapela, to step in and remedy the situation.
Bapela gave the FF Plus the assurance that he will request a report on the current state of affairs and he undertook to meet with the MEC to start addressing the issues in Matlosana by this coming Monday.
Another request by the FF Plus, that the Municipality must appear before the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on COGTA to account for the state of affairs, was also granted.
The FF Plus's representatives on all three levels of government stepped in and demanded immediate intervention at Matlosana after a chaotic council meeting in which the Speaker, Washington Ntozini, among other things, refused to allow the council to discuss or vote on a motion of no confidence in the Speaker himself as well as the unlawfully self-appointed Mayor, Maeto Kgaile.
Matlosana is an economic hub in the North West and the current political instability not only threatens the local economy, but also those of the province and the country. The N12 highway, a national economic “jugular”, runs right through this municipal area.
The blame for the deterioration of the Municipality must be laid at the door of the local ANC leadership, who focus more on their own interests than the needs of the community, which they are supposed to serve.
The ANC faction fights within the council unavoidably result in poor service delivery, a lack of maintenance and replacement of infrastructure and ultimately, general deterioration.
Due to the absence of new, practical and sustainable development plans and the poor execution of existing plans, the Municipality is unable to perform the core functions and fulfil the responsibilities of a municipality.
The FF Plus refuses to stand idly by and look on as municipal governments keep declining and will play an active role to make sure that interventions bring about the changes needed to ensure better service delivery to residents and greater accountability for officials.
Contact details: 079 409 8342
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