Mogalakwena - the power struggle continues

The Mogalakwena town council on Monday called a special council meeting to discuss the mayor, Tlhalefi Mashemaite’s, political interference in the administrative affairs of the municipality.
Mashemaite and about 25 other ANC councillors stated that they couldn't be part of the meeting. Mashemaite said the meeting was illegal as the minutes were drafted by an acting division manager whose appointment wasn’t authorised by him as mayor.
Other councillors also alleged that the speaker, Melba Mabusela, could not chair the meeting as she was suspended by the ANC and they felt the meeting was illegal because the agenda was delivered to them an hour later than it was supposed to be available last Friday. But municipal manager, William Kekana, pointed out that the power to appoint temporary divisional managers when others are on leave rests with the municipal manager, not the mayor. He also highlighted that Mashemaite’s signing powers as mayor was revoked at the emergency meeting of 19 December last year.
Despite the walk-out of the mayor and his followers, 33 councillors remained - enough for the council to form a quorum.
Council accepted a proposal by DA Councillor, Beyers Smit, to take disciplinary action against individuals in the municipality who abuse municipal funds for private security guards and measures.
Council also mandated the municipal manager to appoint security guards without following the full municipal process when he deems it urgent for the protection of workers or municipal property - “especially when the SAPS is unwilling to fulfill its constitutional duties in protecting workers and public property.”
The MM was also instructed to cancel all contracts entered into by the mayor.
The mayor’s conduct will also be reported to the provincial department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and
Traditional Affairs.
While the meeting was under way, the mayor left the municipal
premises escorted by his armed guards. Council also adopted a resolution that
municipal money spent on unautho-rised security services such as the mayor’s guards will be retrieved. - Jasper Raats (jasper@noordnuus.co.za)