EMLM ‘busy turning things around’

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has responded to a statement by the DA (on Page 2 of today’s Rep) that the municipality is heading for a total collapse, indicating that the party should engage on such issues internally and not in the media.

EMLM spokesperson Fundile Feketshane, reacting to the statement and a request to respond, said the municipality wanted to “put things into proper perspective so these allegations made by the DA is properly responded to”.

He said the DA formed part of the deliberate body called the Enoch Mgijima municipal council and that it took part in all the deliberations starting from standing committees and in council. The section 71 reports were generated and presented to the municipal council and “it is advisable that they engage on such issues internally and not in the media space”.

Feketshane said in the past the municipality had entered into the agreement with Eskom on issues of the outstanding debt and that the debt was being serviced.

“Again, the municipality is engaged in rigorous revenue collection strategies so as to improve the financial performance and we call upon the debtors to pay their accounts. Further on, we published an advert so that all our creditors should come to engage and verify the accounts and ultimately agree on payment arrangements.”

He said the vehicle that was leased for the executive mayor Sisisi Tolashe, “had long been returned” and the mayor was being driven in a municipal-owned vehicle.

“The municipality is at a stage where things are going to be turned for the better (sic), so that in the end, services are delivered sustainably to the communities.”

He said there was a lot of work being done to ensure that finances were stabilised so as to ensure that all financial obligations were met as and when they arose, including the payment of salaries and service delivery commitments.