MEC set to decide fate of three councils

EASTERN Cape cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa will decide by tomorrow whether or not to forge ahead with placing three municipalities under administration.

Xasa has written to Enoch Mgijima, Makana and Mnquma local municipalities asking them to give reasons why they should not be put under section 139(1)(a).

The section empowers him to dissolve a dysfunctional council and appoint an administrator until a new council has been elected. He gave the struggling councils until November 22 to respond.

Yesterday, Xasa told the Daily Dispatch he would make his decision based on how the municipalities responded.

“I will have to apply my mind to their responses and do what’s best for service delivery. We are working on a situation where people must follow the law.”

Xasa’s sentiments come after Enoch Mgijima resolved in council to reject his plan to have the affairs of the municipality ran by Bhisho.

The Komani-based council has failed to appoint a municipal manager and a chief financial officer for more 10 and eight months respectively.

When “rejecting” Xasa’s plan, ANC councillors said the critical vacancies should be filled while DA councillors voted to have the municipality placed under administration.

Yesterday, spokesman Fundile Feketshane said the municipality had responded to Xasa’s letter.

“The municipality made such representations so as to clarify the state of affairs at Enoch Mgijima and further attached the portfolio of evidence in support of the facts. It therefore is our firm belief that we provided sufficient facts in response to such a correspondence,” Feketshane said.

Mnquma mayor Thobeka Bikitsha confirmed yesterday that in a council meeting on November 20 there were no objections to the intervention.

“We welcome the intervention, need the support,” Bikitsha said.

Makana municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramoloko had not responded to e-mailed questions by the time of writing. we