CANDIDATE A FOREIGNER RESIDENTS

COUNCILLORS at Molemole local municipality yesterday elected new mayor Edward Paya amid protests by residents who are against the decision.

Paya was elected to lead the Limpopo municipality for the next five years after the ANC attained 72% of votes in the recent elections.

He replaces Paulina Makgato, who led the municipality from 2011.

However, some residents are unhappy with Paya’s appointment, saying Makgato should have been allowed to continue serving as a mayor.

The ANC announced its mayoral candidates prior to the elections, and it is believed the move might have affected the outcome of the elections.

The ANC amassed as much as 90% in previous elections, but discontent over the new candidate could have resulted in the party’s dwindling support in the area.

Community activist Vusi Ramusi yesterday labelled Paya a “foreigner” who does not hail from South Africa.

“For starters, we as the community of Botlokwa don’t know where Paya resides. He doesn’t have the support of the masses and we are surprised he was imposed on us,” Ramusi said.

He said all ANC branches in the area had recommended Makgato, who was “overlooked” when the final decision was made. “The processes of the ANC that we know clearly indicate that the wishes of the masses would be taken into consideration [when such decisions are made]. The sudden pronouncement of Paya as mayor came as a total surprise to us,” said Ramusi.

Local chiefs had also written letters to the ANC requesting that it rescinds its decision to appoint Paya.

One of the chiefs, Kgoshi Kgwadu Machaka, said they were against the deployment of Paya to the position.

“The ANC has done a disservice to the community of Botlokwa by bringing in Paya, who does not have the support of the masses, as mayor. We don’t know that man and, therefore, cannot afford to have him as our mayor,” said Machaka.

Paya refuted allegations that he was a foreigner. He said he was born on farms around the Mara area and had lived in the Mohodi area for the better part of his life. “And I find it strange that they’re raising issues against me now that I’m becoming mayor. I’ve been with these people for most of my life and such issues were never raised.

“Maybe the leadership of the ANC must come and address us for a better understanding of how the organisation’s processes are conducted,” Paya said. TWO robbery suspects were shot and wounded in a highway shootout with police yesterday afternoon in Johannesburg.

The incident took place on the N1 south, between the Rivonia Road and Buccleuch interchanges, around 4pm.

According to police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele, the two suspects who were travelling in a