Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Tim Mpakathe and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Erica Moir.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mantsopa Local Municipality has written to the municipality’s Accounting Officer, Matiro Mokgopodi, calling for the immediate freezing of recently advertised vacancies that were not approved by Council.
During a Special Council meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the vacant positions resulting from retirements, resignations, and bereavements should be filled forthwith to ensure service delivery is not affected.
We have learned with dismay that the municipality not only advertised the positions the Council agreed upon, but also added new positions not included in the current municipal organogram. We condemn this action by the municipal administration; it cannot be correct that they continue to implement measures not in the Council resolution.
We regard this as contempt of the Council resolutions and a total disregard of the Municipal Systems Act, which requires the Municipal Manager to develop a staff establishment for the municipality and submit it to the Municipal Council for approval. Mantsopa Local Municipality last approved the organogram in 2019; the new positions cannot be advertised without the approval of a new organogram.
This is another tactic by the ANC administration to create permanent positions for its cadres deployed in the institution’s political offices, as the current Council term has a few months left.
We will continue to advocate for fair employment opportunities for all, not only for the politically connected cadres. We will put pressure on the Accounting Officer to freeze all vacant positions until the Council approves the new organisational structure.