Organisations call for co-operation in EMLM

Tomorrow, 11 political organisations, businesses and civic organisations are set to rally together for a new vision and culture of co-operation between all the communities of EMLM in preparation for registration for the 2024 elections.

The organisations which will be taking part in the rally include ActionSA, African Renaissance Community, Border Kei Chamber of Business, Civic and Ratepayers Association of Enoch Mgijima, Independent Komani Residents Association, The Independents, Let’s Talk Komani, United Democratic Movement, Qina Mhlali from Molteno and other independent business people.

Yolanda Gcanga, a spokesperson for the concerned stakeholders, said they were resolute in their efforts to have the EMLM dissolved, citing issues such as the growing Eskom debt, which has reached more than R1.275bn.

They believe that the municipality is not properly managing its finances and providing essential services.

According to Gcanga, the dire financial situation of the EMLM may lead to serious consequences for the community of Enoch Mgijima, including possible power outages if Eskom is forced to take action.

“Our goal is to get the municipality to dissolve even though they are making efforts for it not to take place. For the better part of this year, we have battled to rid ourselves of a municipal administration that has demonstrated that they do not see or hear us.”

Since the beginning of August, she said the concerned EMLM stakeholders had been discussing and weighing up the options and steps they needed to take as a community.

The high court case in Makanda to dissolve EMLM was ongoing and Gcanga said they had good reason to believe that the relief they sought from the courts would be granted.

Their bigger objective after the judgment is handed down, after 90 days have passed is to elect individuals who are capable of running a municipal administration that can bring dignity back to the communities, she said.

“To achieve the latter, we need to come together as communities and take positive steps towards expressing the kind of EMLM we’d like to live in a year. We need to identify the people who have the character to represent us with integrity and are qualified to lead us to the promised land.”

Gcanga said the concerned stakeholders were expecting a large turnout at the Chris Hani hexagon at 12pm tomorrow, which she believed would be a ‘historic’ and for people to reclaim their power from ‘corrupt’ officials.