During a special council meeting of the Lephalale Local Municipality (Ellisras) yesterday, the FF Plus voted against a salary increase for the acting Municipal Manager, Ms Motlalekgomo Mmope.
The party is of the opinion that the available funds should rather be used to address the ongoing water and sewage crisis affecting Ellisras and surrounds.
Mmope’s salary was increased from R1 213 606 per annum to R1 608 718, and her appointment was also approved for the next three months.
According to law, an acting municipal manager may be given an increase, but only if the municipality is financially strong enough to afford it.
What is particularly alarming is the fact that the previous Municipal Manager, Ms Maria Conquyt, is on special leave and is still earning her salary of R1,6 million pending an investigation against her for alleged corruption.
The Municipality’s bulk reservoirs are no more than white elephants, because the infrastructure is inadequate because of cable theft and because the boreholes, which were only drilled after the reservoirs had been erected, are empty.
The Municipality’s collection rate currently stands at 72%, compared to the projected 95%, and its expenditure is also already 25% more than this time last year.
So, the Municipality is facing serious financial problems.
Residents have no water while the ANC-controlled authority prefers to line its cadres’ pockets rather than prioritise its legal obligation to provide basic service delivery.
The communities of the Seleka and Shongwane settlements must walk kilometres to fetch water from rivers from which animals usually drink.
The only way to save South Africa is to register and vote to get rid of the ANC and replace it with a competent and accountable coalition government, with the FF Plus as a stable coalition partner.
Together, we can repair and rebuild South Africa.
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