Mokopane Business Chamber reponds to the situation at the Mogalakwena Municipality

Mokopane Business Chamber reponds to the situation at the Mogalakwena Municipality:

“Enough is enough. When elected and appointed politicians start acting in their own interest and forget that they are there to serve their community, the voice of reason must be raised.”

“Mogalakwena Local Municipality has been paralysed by political infighting between councillors. This has now spread to voters as well as municipal officials. It is absurd for a municipality to have two mayors and two municipal managers, needing court orders to try and determine who is actually in charge – for which court orders voters have to pay.”

“When some Mahwelereng residents have to depend on local polluted streams for water due to the municipality’s inability to provide what is a constitutional right, namely clean water, and this carries on for weeks on end, alarm bells start ringing.”

“When water supply to sections of the community is selectively cut off based on political support, as has been alleged, when councillors and municipal officials receive death threats and have to resort to armed security guards for protection, when the SAPS is perceived to play a political rather than a law and order role, allegedly under instructions from its provincial office democracy in Mogalakwena is under serious threat.”

“When appeals by the business community to the premier’s office, COGTA, Min Gordhan’s office and even Lethuli House to solve the dreadlock in the municipality receive only thundering silence, one cannot but wonder whether service delivery and good local governance is really the priority it is made out to be.”

“The business community in Mogalakwena Local Municipality is extremely concerned about the effect this unedifying situation has on local business confidence. With applications for new mining rights streaming in, it is imperative that calm and order return to local governance and that all politicians start acting out the needs of their constituents and not own personal advancement.”

“It is time that all political parties take note of President Zuma’s celebratory speech in Cape Town on 10 Jan where he listed local governance and combating corruption as two of the four top priorities for 2015. Addressing members of his own political party, he stated “Let us rededicate ourselves to the core values of the ANC, that of self-discipline and service to the people. Let us root out those members and representatives who are corrupt, factional and undermine the unity and cohesion of this … movement.”

The business community believes that the sentiments expressed in the above quote, is sorely needed in Mokopane.