ANC promises response in 7 days
Actions of two Ezibeleni councillors will be thoroughly investigated
ANC regional secretary Lusanda Sizani has indicated that the party will respond to the Ezibeleni community leaders on what steps will be taken to investigate allegations against two of its councillors within seven days.
Last Friday, Sizani met with the community leaders to discuss complaints surrounding issues of employment in community projects in the area and the removal of two ANC councillors – Caesar Gwampi of ward 4 and Mzikabawo Ngesi of ward 6 – due to them allegedly failing to do their duties.
The community leaders alleged the councillors appointed people who were close to them and not according to the process agreed upon with the entire community.
They also called for the fast-tracking of investigations on all allegations laid against the councillors.
Sizani said his party would call a meeting with the rest of the regional executive structure and the councillors to discuss the allegations and what processes would take place.
“The community leaders demanded the ANC suspend the councillors pending the outcome of the investigations. It is not easy to remove a councillor as such people are voted into place by the community. The ANC has processes in place to deal with complaints against its councillors. If there are any elements of corruption and misconduct, due steps will be taken. We asked for seven days to get back to the community leaders for a report back after the whole regional structure has met and discussed the matter.
“There will be more complaints of this nature against ANC councillors because of the coming elections. We have seen the same thing in ward 18, Lesseyton and several other wards in the region hence there are protests about service delivery which should be directed to the local municipality.”
In several community meetings held to discuss the removal of the councillors, community members also called for the publication of the highly sought after housing report that has taken years to conclude.
The Rep reported (“Ezibeleni protests on the cards”, August 10) that Ezibeleni resident Zolile Xalisa said Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality speaker Mzoxolo Peter had failed to attend a meeting at which he had promised to produce the long-awaited housing report.
In a meeting between The Rep reporter and Peter last Friday, he disputed the claims, saying he never promised to produce any report as it was yet to be concluded by the appointed structure.
“The police phoned me and I agreed to a meeting with the community leaders and scheduled it for last Monday. Due to unforeseen circumstances I could not make it and asked for an official to go and listen to their grievances. I did not promise them any report because it is not yet available.”
He said when the report was concluded, it
‘It is not easy to remove a councillor as such people are voted into place by the community’
would first go to council for discussion and recommendation before it was shared publicly.
“It is not true what the community leaders said about me. The matter of the report was communicated by me and the mayor to the community of Ezibeleni earlier this year. They were not happy with our responses and called for the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa to intervene.”
He said a letter was then written to Cogta explaining the situation. “It is up to Cogta to liaise further on the matter with the community as they did not accept our responses in that meeting.”