WHILE irate city councillors are demanding action from the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, to force a Sol Plaatje City Council meeting, the situation is no closer to being resolved.
Several councillors from the DA, EFF and the ANC gathered at the offices of the MEC yesterday after a council meeting, scheduled to take place on Tuesday afternoon, was postponed by the acting Speaker.
With no date given for the next meeting, the councillors waited in vain for most of yesterday morning for Vass, who failed to arrive.
“The MEC was not available but we were addressed by a delegation consisting of, amongst others, head of ministry Mbuyiselo Madyo and advocate Mogami Manyaneng,” said DA chief whip Christopher Phiri shortly after the councillors had departed from the Coghsta boardroom at around noon.
“We voiced our frustrations pertaining to council meetings that have either been cancelled or postponed indefinitely, for unfounded reasons, and wanted to request another meeting.”
Late yesterday afternoon the DA’s provincial leader, Andrew Louw, said that the casual way that provincial government was managing the “Sol Plaatje crisis” was a great cause for concern and that the signatures of Sol Plaatje councillors were currently being collected in the hopes that a special council meeting could be convened tomorrow.
“Not only is Sol Plaatje Municipality currently without a mayor but the contracts of the acting municipal manager and the acting CFO are also due to expire in the next couple of days,” Louw pointed out. “Failure to address this as a matter of urgency will further exacerbate the municipal standstill and might as well see the municipality officially close its doors.
“Vass’ failure to meet with councillors proves that the failing ANC does not care about the people of Kimberley. Instead, the ANC is content to use Sol Plaatje in a power struggle between factions.”
While the councillors were waiting at the Coghsta offices for Vass to arrive yesterday morning, Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers, involved in the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s Mayoral Cleaning Project, also gathered outside, demanding that a new mayor be sworn in as a matter of urgency and giving Coghsta until Monday to resolve the matter.
Earlier this week, disruptions at the civic centre saw a group of around 100 EPWP workers accused of posing a threat that necessitated the postponement of Tuesday’s special council meeting, while yesterday saw dozens of protesters return to the street, this time marching to Coghsta’s offices demanding to know when their issues with the municipality would be resolved.
Among their demands, highlighted in a statement to MEC Vaas, the workers are calling for a minimum wage of R3 500, December bonuses and skills development programmes.
However, in order for their concerns to be addressed the election of a new mayor first needs to be prioritised.
This is according to the South African Liberated Public Service Workers’ Union (Salipswu) provincial organiser, Thapelo Thole, following the workers’ march on the Coghsta offices yesterday morning.
“We waited for the MEC, who didn’t show up,” Thole said shortly after lunchtime. “The strike won’t end now and workers want the new mayor to be elected.
“We wanted answers from the MEC but were told that he will be available to meet us on Monday.
“First thing next week, we will be back at Coghsta, waiting for him to arrive at work.”