Clarion call on EMLM crisis
THE EFF caucus in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) and the United Front in the Chris Hani region are calling for the local authority to be dissolved following electricity woes and the auction of municipal assets.
In a media briefing last Wednesday, EFF councillor Luthando Amos indicated the unpaid debts of former municipalities (Lukhanji, Tsolwana and Inkwanca) before the amalgamation were the cause of the municipality’s instability.
“There has been no commitment from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa on what his office will do about the chaos in this municipality. Assets were auctioned and on numerous occasions the municipality failed to pay Eskom. This led to uncertainty and caused panic among residents. The appointed leadership in this municipality does not have the capacity to run it, hence we call upon our fellow councillors to plead with their political principals and support our call to have this municipality dissolved. “
Recently, the Queenstown sheriff auctioned EMLM assets to pay outstanding debt to a civil engineering company that had built a community hall in Sterkstroom. The municipality had failed to pay the R21-million settlement for the hall.
The cash-strapped municipality still owes Eskom an amount of R44-million.
The local authority has also been struggling to collect revenue which has contributed to ongoing financial problems. Amos said the municipal leaders had failed to disclose the magnitude of the debt.
“This is a clear indication that there is no political will to change the lives of the people of EMLM. All these issues are beyond the new municipal manager and mayor’s control. The only solution is to dissolve this municipality so that people with the capacity to lead can take over.”
In a statement by the United Front, Chris Hani regional secretary Khaya Gwana said he was shocked by the failure and collapse of leadership in the municipality.
“We are disappointed and in disbelief about what has transpired in recent weeks and the municipality’s silence has been deafening. We demand that Cogta places this municipality under administration and that the whole council be dissolved.”
Mlungisi-based civic organisation Komani Residents have also called on the municipality to be dissolved due to its failure to provide services. Komani Residents secretary Axolile Masiza said if Cogta refused to intervene, community members would boycott service payment until the provincial government took action.