‘WE WILL RETURN TO STREETS’
OUTRAGED city residents have threatened to return to the streets over the appointment of the Sol Plaatje acting municipal manager, Ruth Sebolecwe, which they believe was unprocedural.
One of the organisers of last week’s protest march, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, stated that they would seek intervention from the president, as the appointment was illegal.
“There are several allegations against the acting municipal manager that need to be investigated. We are all being taken for fools. The community has once again been undermined by the municipality, which is playing with people’s lives. It appears as if corruption is being protected at the expense of the community. Residents are fed up ... and that is a bad space to be in as they have nothing more to lose. We would all like to continue with our lives, nobody wants another shutdown, but it seems that we have no other choice.”
He added that they had left a meeting with the ANC provincial leadership on Monday with the understanding that matters had been resolved.
“The meeting was in bad faith because, like the interdict, Sebolecwe was already being appointed behind our backs. We wanted a reputable and independent firm to conduct the investigation into the municipal manager and chief financial officer regarding high water and electricity losses, the appointment of the public relations company that was hired to campaign for the R260 electricity levy and the high electricity tariffs that were implemented. It was agreed that theses officials would resign with immediate effect and not be paid to sit at home.”
He also stated that the community members who were charged with public violence following last week’s protests, felt that they would prefer to pay for their own bail instead of the ANC doing so. It is estimated that the bail money paid so far amounts to about R15 000.
“Our people do not want to be bought or be indebted to the ANC. We are all aware that next year is election time once more.”
Freedom Front Plus (FF+) provincial leader Wynand Boshoff pointed out that most of the decisions taken were politically motivated, where the mayor should be held responsible for the consequences.
“The infighting that is taking place is causing the administration to collapse. While the FF+ supports the precautionary suspensions, the question is whether any disciplinary steps will be taken against the municipal manager and chief financial officer?”
The chairperson of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, indicated that an acting official could only be appointed by council and not by the mayor.
“The municipality is not adhering to its own code of conduct as the officials who were placed on precautionary suspension were not given any prior warnings, notice and have not been charged. It is a thumb-suck response to appease the community, which has come too late. The entire municipality should be dissolved as it has lost all credibility.”