Do or die for Sol Speaker
IT IS A case of do or die as opposition councillors at the Sol Plaatje Municipality are expecting ANC councillors to vote against the Speaker, Elizabeth Santa Johnson (pictured), at today’s council meeting if she refuses to resign.
While the ANC yesterday thanked both Johnson and the Frances Baard district mayor, Virginia Buyiswa Ximba, for their service to the community and indicated that the party had accepted their resignations, their legal representative said there were still ongoing talks and that nothing had been finalised yet.
ANC provincial secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, stated yesterday that redeployments would come into effect at various district and local municipalities across the Province, following consultations with the ANC Regional Executive Committee (REC).
“The ANC has consulted with the affected comrades and would like to thank them for their service to the community which they so diligently served.
“The redeployment of these comrades came after much consideration and in an effort to contribute positively towards the strengthening of the performance and the capacity of the municipalities. It is our view that the changes made will contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of these municipalities.”
Ngxanga indicated that the ANC REC deputy secretary, Patrick Wende Marekwa, would replace Ximba as the Frances Baard district mayor.
“Ximba will remain at the municipality where she will serve as a member of the mayoral committee (MMC). At the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Ingrid Koopman will replace Johnson as the Speaker.
“Johnson will be redeployed as a member of the mayoral committee at the municipality.”
He added that at the Joe Morolong Municipality, Violet Jordan would replace Godfrey Sephekolo as the Speaker while he, in turn, would be redeployed to the MMC of that municipality.
“We have also made changes at the Namakwa District Municipality, where Mervin Cloete will replace Adel Gunda Rooi as the executive mayor of the municipality.
“The ANC calls on all its members and leaders to display unity of purpose at this time. Members of the organisation are expected to display the highest levels of commitment in the execution of their duties.”