It’s been 30 days after the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) approved the Motion by the Democratic Alliance (DA) for the establishment of an Ombudsman, but the position still must be advertised. Residents have been waiting since 2018 for the establishment of this office after it was first tabled in council and approved.
Council approved the recommendation that the Office of the Ombudsman must be established within 90 days after the motion was approved by council. Many residents of Mangaung are still struggling with no service delivery, incorrect account balances, unresolved disputes and indigent applications that has not been approved since 2020. These are complaints that need to be investigated by the office of the Ombudsman when it is established.
Last week, the governing ANC put the office of the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mxolisi Siyonzana, Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr. Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane, the Speaker Cllr. Stefani Lockman-Naidoo and the Chief Whip of council, Cllr Vumile Nikelo, first to advertise office support positions internally. Positions advertised is Chief of Staff, Office Manager, Special Advisor and heads of the mentioned offices.
Today, the DA submitted questions to the Office of the Acting City Manager, Mr Tebogo Motlashuping, asking when the position of the Ombudsman will be advertised because the motion recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman be established within 90 days. When the ombudsman is appointed, he must be given time to appoint support staff for his/her office to assist with investigations.
The DA will keep pressuring the Office of the City Manager to establish the Office of the Ombudsman within the next 60 days to protect the residents of Mangaung. The ANC has yet to realise that cadre deployment is the cause for the downfall of the Mangaung Metro after the DA has submitted court papers to stop cadre deployment by the ANC.