Newly elected Ditsobotla Local Municipality Mayor, Thabo Nkashe. Image:Facebook: Tebogo Kotlhai
Newly elected Ditsobotla Municipality Mayor promises payment of salaries
Municipal workers have not been paid their May salaries. Municipality bankrupt with former mayor saying the account balance is R0.
Newly elected Ditsobotla Local Municipality Mayor, Thabo Nkashe. Image:Facebook: Tebogo Kotlhai
Newly elected Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor Thabo Nkashe has promised to pay workers by the end of the week. This comes after a meeting with different portfolio managers and union leaders.
New mayor elected in special council meeting
ALSO READ: Ditsobotla municipality bankrupt and unable to pay salaries
The election of a new mayor in the embattled municipality comes after the Patriotic Alliance’s Itumeleng Lethoko was ousted in a vote of no confidence.
Lethoko resigned hours after taking office in January, and a motion was tabled. However, council failed to debate the motion in various council meetings. It was finally debated on Friday, and Thabo Nkashe from the Forum 4 Service Delivery was elected was nominated and elected unopposed.
The debate comes a week after the election of an acting municipal speaker following the death of the late speaker Fikile Jakeni. Through a secret ballot, Ronald Matlholoa was voted in as acting speaker.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Nkashe says the payment of salaries is their first priority.
ALSO READ: Ditsobotla: Newly elected PA mayor resigns within hours
“I convened a meeting with managers of different portfolios and union leaders for a meet and greet. Our main objectives is to deal with the situation that we find ourselves in right now, which is the nonpayment of salaries in Ditsobotla” he says
“We came up with a solution that not later than the end of the week, the salaries will be paid up for the workers.”
Summary of Ditsobotla Municipality’s Problems
ALSO READ: Auditor General reveals billions wasted by municipalities
The non-payment of salaries by the municipality is just among a long list of problems that are faced by the Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
Last year, two warring ANC factions split the municipal council in two. The small municipality had two mayors, speakers and council managers. This led to salaries not being paid at the end of August and the non-delivery of essential services.
ALSO READ: Mayor Retief Odendaal removed by vote of no confidence
In October, the council was dissolved by Parliament and put under administration due to large-scale maladministration. A by-election was held in December and a coalition government has been in charge.
