Oscar ‘massages’ Komani crowd

Premier Oscar Mabuyane has blamed the service delivery woes of troubled Enoch Mgijima municipality on the amalgamation of Tsolwana, Inkwanca and Lukhanji municipalities in 2016.

Mabuyane was addressing more than 200 Komani residents who submitted a list of complaints to him in August.

The residents demanded an immediate improvement in service delivery and a probe into councillors and officials allegedly staying in municipal houses for free.

Other demands are that Komani residents be prioritised when there are municipal vacancies, as well as a land audit.

Mabuyane said the three municipalities that were merged in 2016 were in trouble at the time.

“This municipality is in the mud,” he said.

Mabuyane said allegations of freeloading politicians and officials should be investigated, with a report tabled in council.

Komani Residents’ Association (Kora) member, Zolile Xalisa, accused Mabuyane of “trying to massage residents” ahead of next week’s Taking the Legislature to the People meeting, which will be in Komani.

“This is a sign that you don’t respect the people that elected you,” he charged.

A businessman, Ken Clark, called for the municipality to be dissolved.

“This municipality is in a financial crisis that makes what the Guptas did to the state look like a tea party.

“[Former administrator] Vuyo Mlokoti was removed from here because he was doing the right thing. Both the council and the political leadership are illegitimate,” he said.

Another Kora member, Thembisa Nonzwakazi, said they would continue illegally connecting electricity in the Joe Slovo informal settlement until they received improved services.

This is a sign that you don’t respect the people that elected you