DA SINGS VICTORY SONGS IN BUSHVELD
NEWLY elected DA mayor for the new municipality formed after the amalgamation of Modimolle and Mookgophong has warned that corrupt officials would be given the chop during her term in office.
Marlene van Staden, 35, was speaking after her party set a historic electoral milestone in Limpopo yesterday. It was double celebration for the DA as its other councillor, Johann Abrie, was also elected speaker of the new local municipality in bushveld district of Waterberg.
With each victorious announcement for the blue party, cheerful screams and singing filled the Waterberg municipal offices in the Modimolle, a southern Limpopo town formerly known as Nylstroom.
Van Staden will lead the recently amalgamated municipality which is temporarily called Lim 368 local municipality until the council deliberates on a new name.
This is the first time the ANC surrenders power in the towns of Modimolle and Mookgophong since the dawn of democracy in 1994, adding to severe blows it received in Gauteng and other parts of the country in the recent local elections.
After she was announced as the new mayor, a beaming Van Staden vowed to rid the municipality of corruption while improving service delivery. The former journalist said wasteful expenditure would be nipped in the bud. She said jobs were safe but warned those who were found with their hands in the cookie jar “to be wary”.
“I am extremely honoured to be part of this new municipality which the DA is leading into the future,” Van Staden said.
“The overall financial position of this municipality will be thoroughly investigated. Those found in the wrong will be held accountable.”
She intends to focus on water, electricity and roads. The DA and coalition partners won the mayoral seat by 17 votes from the 28 that were cast; the ANC got 11 votes.
Van Staden effectively replaces Meisie Lekalakala (Modimolle) and Sarah Monyamane (Mookgophong).
Amid rampant protests Sowetan reported on in the past year, residents in both towns had demanded both Lekalakala and Monyamane be removed before their terms ended.