COSATU Free State calls for accountability on the state of municipalities in the province and an outcome following the recent visit by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
The Federation calls for urgent consequence management from the provincial and national government on the state of municipalities in the Free State, particularly after revelations during the visit of the CoGTA oversight team. Free State communities were embarrassed by the presentations from the leadership of the various municipalities about the poor state of local government. COSATU Affiliate, South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the workers were vindicated following their recent outcry about the fraud and maladministration in municipalities, in particular Matjhabeng, Nala and Masilonyana.
The recent Auditor General report has revealed damning outcomes against municipalities which have been left unattended for far too long with no accountability. This has been the order of the day in the Free State as we observed, yearly, monies intended to change resident’s lives being squandered and returned to national Treasury whilst our people were left swimming in sewerage, spending weeks without running water, negotiating potholes daily and residing in dark areas without streets lights.
Residents didn’t vote for this mediocrity. The leadership of the movement has continuously failed to hold accountable those found wanting and with serious allegations of corruption, maladministration, theft and violence. By so doing, they have unwittingly become accomplices in the misdeeds.
What was revealed in Matjhabeng Local Municipality vindicated SAMWU, even though it was insulted daily by the provincial leaders of the ANC. Surprisingly, the Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, Thanduxolo Khalipha, is set to launch an investigation into the rot. What possible outcome is expected when during a recent interview with Thuso Motaung on Lesedi FM, the honourable Mayor denied any wrongdoing. Clearly the investigation is a smokescreen designed to buy time while finding a scapegoat.
To date, we still await the report on the second-hand fleet bought with taxpayers millions; and a thorough investigation into the “rogue unit” set up to spy on those perceived to be enemies.
Nala Local Municipality has been unstable for some time to the point of having two mayors. There was no political will to intervene urgently. Instead, people of Nala were disrespected and insulted for fighting to protect their municipality.
COSATU in the Free State calls on the provincial leadership to cleanse the ANC of all mayors implicated in wrongdoing and have brought the movement and government into disrepute and implement consequence management.
Should there be further shielding of culprits by the leadership, COSATU will mobilise its Affiliates to demand accountability, consequence management and radical change. We call on all stakeholders and community members to join COSATU in a campaign to reclaim our municipalities.
On behalf of the PEC of COSATU in the Free State.
Tiisetso Mahlatsi
Provincial Secretary
079 152 9648
