Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni asserted that his phone remains available 24/7 as he continues to serve the community diligently, in response to fresh demands for his resignation.
SOL PLAATJE executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni asserted that his phone is on 24 hours a day, seven days per week as he diligently serves the community, in response to renewed calls for him to step down.
Community members believe that the mayor was rather carrying out a political mandate instead of serving their interests.
Community members believe the mayor is carrying out a political mandate over serving their needs.
A community meeting will be held at the Galeshewe circle on Sunday, starting at 3pm, to discuss the high electricity prices, the blocking of electricity meters, the removal of the mayor and the high unemployment rate.
Boyce Makodi from the Kimberley Action Group said that ratepayers were being misled about the high electricity prices.
“The municipality is making a profit out of the sale of electricity while residents are struggling to make ends meet. We have invited the mayor, Speaker and municipal manager to the meeting on Sunday,” said Makodi.
He called for another Section 106 forensic investigation to be conducted into irregular expenditure and any unlawful activities at Sol Plaatje Municipality.
“Council must also be disbanded and the mayor must step down.”
Makodi also pointed out that the R10 million Nelson Mandela Monument Precinct at the Galeshewe circle amounted to wasteful expenditure.
“There appears to be no willingness to investigate this monstrosity. The cut-out statue of what was supposed to be Madiba’s finger has been removed and has apparently been sold at a scrapyard.”
During a meeting that was held this week, community members accused the mayor of hiring thugs to intimidate and insult them.
“An incident took place during a community meeting in Ward 8 where we called the mayor, who is also the ward councillor, to attend to service delivery complaints, as he never answers his phone.”
They added that a fight broke out when a woman allegedly stabbed a relative of the mayor and she retaliated by assaulting the woman on September 2.
“While both parties apparently opened cases, the mayor’s family was never arrested.”
They were also aggrieved that residents of Ward 8 were not being given jobs, while those affiliated with the mayor and ANC chief whip were allegedly given preference.
Sonyoni said that he was not aware of the meeting that was scheduled for September 15.
“No formal communication has been received by my office.”
He added that he convened regular community and mayor-meets-the-people meetings to address service delivery issues.
“Apart from being the executive mayor, I am also a ward councillor and my phone is on 24/7, I don’t work on appointments. I allow community members to engage with me at any time and anywhere. I am a public servant elected to serve the people wholeheartedly and diligently.”
Sonyoni denied ever paying anyone at any community meeting in his ward.
“I sometimes go to community meetings without my bodyguard, simply because I am very much part of the community. I reside among my ward members, I don’t stay in any mayoral accommodation.”
He said that Sol Plaatje Municipality was one of the few municipalities that did not charge basic and electricity capacity fees.
“The price of electricity is expensive in South Africa hence the Energy and Electricity minister is preoccupied with this matter. We are not one of the top 10 expensive municipalities when it comes to charging household electricity prices.”
Sonyoni pointed out that the municipality had not written off any government debts and had recovered large amounts owed.
He explained that a 50 percent discount was offered to all clients as an incentive to settle their municipal accounts in full, from December 2023 to February 2024, which yielded “positive results”.
Sonyoni said residents were excited about the Madiba Square development, while Sol Plaatje was one of five municipalities that had received funding from the National Treasury to improve its water structure.
“We have gone on an aggressive programme of installing and fixing street lights and high-mast lights and fixing and paving streets in Ward 8. We will restore the dignity of community members by making their living spaces habitable.”
Sonyoni stated that among the major projects created to attract investors and create jobs was a development around New Park.
He encouraged members of the public to register on the municipal database so that they could be contacted when work opportunities arose.
He added that the municipality followed recruitment policies to appoint the most suitable candidates.
“I have no influence over who gets hired.”
