Standerton – The Democratic Alliance (DA) leadership has called on Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC Mandla Msibi to put the Lekwa Local Municipality in Standerton under Administration.
The municipality is without a mayor.
The mayoral position recently became vacant after the removal of the formerly coalition-backed executive mayor, Louis Thabethe.
He was removed earlier this week through a no-confidence motion against him that was tabled in council by the DA.
Thabethe, the leader of the Lekwa Community Forum, which occupies only six seats in the council, is accused of failing the residents of poor service delivery, including sewer spillage, lack of water and electricity supply as well as mushrooming potholes.
As many as 17 Councillors voted in favour of the motion to axe Thabethe.
The African National Congress has 13 seats in the council, the DA has four, the Economic Freedom Fighters have three, the Freedom Front Plus has two and the African Transformation Movement has one.
One seat is occupied by an independent Councillor.
Speaking to The Bulrushes, DA provincial chairperson, Bosman Grobler, said his party has already sent a petition to the COGTA MEC to put the municipality under under Administration.
“The residents cannot further tolerate living under such a deteriorating situation anymore under this coalition leadership,” stated Grobler.
“Imagine spending two weeks without water and electricity. I’m no longer talking of giant potholes even in town.”
Grobler, who is also a Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, added: “This is what forced us as the DA to table a motion of no-confidence against the mayor and further write to the Cogta MEC to put this malfunctioning municipality under Administration because our people deserve better service delivery”.
Grobler added: “As the DA, we cannot be part of a coalition with people we don’t agree with”.
Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Lindiwe Msibi, told The Bulrushes that: “As cogta, we haven’t yet received the DA’s request to put the municipality under Administration.
“The MEC is yet to engage with the municipality.
“However, we are worried about what is happening in the municipality because so far, service delivery is stabilising.”
