Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Suzette Steyn and Sesotho by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
On the 9th of May, the acting Municipal Manager, Mopthusi Lepheana sent out a letter to all councillors informing them that there would be a delay in the payment of salaries for the month of May, due on the 15th
Essential services personnel of Mafube Local Municipality decided to down-tools on Friday, 17 May 2024, not having received their monthly salaries and claiming that they cannot continue to work because they do not have the required PPE. The mayor met with the personnel and unions and convinced them to restore the water supply pending the immediate supply of the necessary PPE and escalating the non-payment of salaries to the MEC of CoGTA, Makume.
Not receiving salaries nor PPE, the essential services resorted to down tools again on the evening of 20 May 2024, cutting off all water supply to Frankfort, Namahadi and Cornelia. Not being able to reach MM Lepheana since last Friday, the mayor once again called in the intervention of the MEC of CoGTA and the provincial leader of the intervention team. Thomas Mkhaza will engage with the personnel and unions tomorrow morning.
The Democratic Alliance escalated this unacceptable situation to DA MPL and CoGTA representative, Leona Kleynhans who is in communication with Makume requesting swift intervention and immediate solutions to restore the water supply to the residents of Mafube.
It is unacceptable that senior management is nowhere to be found during this crisis. The residents and business community of Mafube Local Municipality can no longer afford the incompetence of the Acting Municipal Manager and his team of acting senior managers.
The DA will drive this inhumane action of the Mafube Municipality relentlessly and is committed to bringing change across the country therefore urges all residents to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Government elections on 29 May.