21 October, 2016 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL
Former Mayor’s BMW 535i returned Lizzy Bapela The former Mayor of Mookgophong, Sarah Monyamane, is being accused of abusing her powers while in leadership and wasted more than R1.3 million by buying two cars without the council’s approval. The DA-led administration in LIM368 Municipality (Modimolle and Mookgophong) recently announced that they have since returned a BMW 535i, which Monyamane used, to the car dealers to settle an outstanding amount of R175 000. The party alleges that the former mayor bought herself a R383 553 BMW and then used the municipality’s money to repair the car and engine after it was damaged. They added that the vehicle was sold on auction in 2014 and the municipality opted to rent several vehicles for the Mayor instead of paying for a new, affordable car. “In January 2015, a new BMW 535i was bought at a cost of R790 900, with monthly instalment of a staggering R25 000 over a
Former Mayor of Mookgophong Sarah Monyamane is being accused of abusing her powers during her term of office. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
period of three years,” said the DA Caucus Leader in LIM368 Municipality, Hercules Louw in a statement. “Since taking over the municipality, the DA led administration discovered that there is still an outstanding amount of R175 000 to be paid for the vehicle. The newly formed municipality has a huge service
delivery backlog and we have opted to return the car to the supplier to end the contract and to settle the outstanding amount. The DA will continue to call for a Mayoral Handbook at local and provincial level to ensure that limited municipal resources are not spent on expensive luxury vehicles or lavish unnecessary expenditure.
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The people’s money should be spent on job creation and service delivery,” Louw continued. The DA also announced that they have already submitted a motion with notice at the legislature, calling for a debate about the adoption of a Mayoral Handbook at the municipal and provincial level and the motion was accepted. They added that the motion came among reports that many municipalities across the province are wasting the taxpayers’ money on mayoral cars instead of prioritising service delivery and good governance. “Where the DA governs, we ensure that money meant for the people is spent on the people. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure a clean, well-run government that delivers better services and create jobs,” Louw added. Municipal spokesperson Naphtally Tloaela could not be reached to confirm the return of the car or comment on the allegations levelled against his former boss.
Residents complain of poor services Lizzy Bapela Only two months after the new council took power, residents of LIM368 (Modimolle/ Mookgophong) are already feeling unsettled with the new administration’s operations. Members of different structures came together on Wednesday, 12 October to raise their complaints with the media, calling out to their municipality’s political management team to speed up service delivery as they promised them before coming into government. The structures consist of the ANC Youth League, South African National Civil Organization (SANCO), South African Youth Council (SAYC) and ordinary community members. The municipality’s political management team consists of Mayor Marlene van Staden, Speaker Johann Abrie and Chief Whip Dingaan Motshene The members complained about, among other things: lack of water. They say that only three tankers are provided for the entire area, which are not enough as Phagameng is too big. They added that Abrie allegedly did not follow proper procedures while appointing borehole companies and he even side-lined certain people while registering the needy community for indigents’ applications. The
Jonathan Khubai and Matlhomola Mathe of the ANC Youth League, Strike Lekoto of SANCO, Thapelo Morake aka DOTS, Oupa Marema and Bokamoso Modisha of SAYC expressed their concerns and demands on behalf or residents of LIM368. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
complainants further said that the PMT never met with their people after the elections to chart a way forward with them in terms of service delivery. The group further alleged that the PMT interferes with the administration. They added that this makes the situation uneasy for the municipal manager Sam Bambo, as he has to take orders from them in matters
pertaining administration and not politics. They complained that only one truck is provided for waste removal, alleging that the mayor instructed the workers to start removing the waste in town before going into the township. They also said that the previous council resolved to demolishing the dumping site that is situated next to the residential area as it impacts badly on
Waterberg mayors meet their people Mayors in the Waterberg District have now formally been introduced to their communities. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Lizzy Bapela It was all fun and celebrations when mayors in the Waterberg District came together in one spirit to meet with the people they will be serving for the coming five-year term. This happened during the mayors’ inauguration ceremony that took place at the Mahwelereng Stadium in Mokopane on Saturday, 15 October, which people from all corners of the Waterberg District attended. Dressed to kill in their glamorous and stylish new suits, the mayors pledged their signatures before rounding the stadium to shake hands with members of the community who attended the inauguration. Bela-Bela Mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni, LIM368’s Marlene van Staden, Mogalakwena’s Adriana Matsemela, Lephalale’s Jack Maeko, Thabazimbi’s Mitta
Moselane; and their superior, Waterberg District Executive Mayor Morris Mataboge have now formally been introduced to their communities. The mayors were accompanied by their spokespersons, together with leaders forming with them municipalities’ political management teams; speakers and chief whips. With CoGHSTA MEC Makoma Makhurupetje leading the proceedings as programme director, the event went well and was rated a total success. Members of the community and those in different political parties, including councillors, applauded when their leaders ascended the stage, giving them the long-awaited addresses. Every mayor received a warm welcome from residents of their respective municipalities. Joyful members of the coalition government of the merged Modimolle/Mookgophong Municipalities and now LIM368 consisting of
the DA and EFF sang and danced with their mayor, van Staden, accompanying her back to the stage after a meet and greet with her people. Bela-Bela resident Taruza Moyo and Mogalakwena’s Ivan Thobejane both said that they really enjoyed the event and believed that change is coming in their local municipalities. Both residents added that they hope that the mayors will implement what they have just promised in their acceptance speeches and not let those addresses die as the papers they were written on fade. “I felt like a real VIP, feeling the presence of these high ranked leaders as they passed right next to me and even shaking hands and having conversations with some of them. We often watch, hear or read about them and their activities on the news and today I spoke to them face to face. Again, communities always have to strive for opportunities to meet with their leaders to engage with them on issues relating to service delivery in their areas but today they got to tell them in person, without having to make appointments,” said Moyo. Deputy Minister in the Presidency and Waterberg’s son of the soil Buti Manamela, Limpopo MEC for Health Poppy Ramathuba
people’s health especially children’s as they use it as a playground. Apparently, the DA led administration continues using the dumping site regardless of it endangering the residents. “We call on the PMT to do right by the community, otherwise we will influence the community to stop paying services so that the PMT will take us seriously. We also urge Abrie to come back and provide us with tires and petrol money so that we can protest again and burn the area to express our anger like he used to do before he got elected into office,” they said. “We also urge him to give a portion of his farms to the needy for residency if his government cannot provide land. We further call for the municipality to provide full bursaries to the needy and not just money for registrations as many students cannot afford financially to further their studies. The municipality should also employ interpreters including those for sign language so that the elderly and the deaf can understand everything that is said in the council or ordinary community meetings.” In his response, spokesperson for the municipality Naphtally Tloaela said that he would engage the PMT for clarity in all the allegations levelled against them or the municipality. Tlhoaela further promised to give a full report on all complaints after meeting with his superiors.
and other high ranked politicians at the district, provincial and national level graced the event. Different artists in the performing arts industry including singers, traditional and modern dancers entertained the audience with their activities. Meanwhile, members of various media houses including print, broadcast and television were present at the event to ensure that the people of Waterberg and South Africa at large catch the news, hot as they were.