‘Broken’ council continues to give administrator grief
It is so broken, it is under administration, but Enoch Mgijima council carries on lashing out at its administrator.
But Dr Vuyo Mlokoti will stay put, co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa wrote in a letter to the truant municipality recently.
In its reply, at a special council meeting on Thursday, the council ordered mayor Sisisi Tolashe to go back to Xasa and tell him why they say Mlokoti must go.
One voice going against the ANC majority council, was United Front councillor Aaron Mhlontlo, who said that the council had taken a decision on March 14 to extend Mlokoti’s intervention.
A week later the majority did an about turn. Mhlonto said this went against the rules of council.
ANC councillor Bulelani Mgoqi accused the administrator of poor performance. He had not saved the council from their financial woes and inability to deliver services, had not paid their Eskom debt nor fixed their bad relationship with municipal managers.
Mgoqi claimed the council was “still directly responsible and accountable to Enoch Mgijima communities”.
ANC councillor Mzoxolo Peter also accused Mlokoti of acting outside of his constitutional powers because he only finished his financial recovery plan a week before his term ended.
Cogta spokesperson Mamkeli Ngam said the MEC had told the council that they remained under administration.
Mlokoti’s powers, or “terms of reference” could only be reviewed after the intervention has been finalised,” Ngam said.
On March 14, council took a resolution to extend Mlokoti’s intervention for six months, ending on September 14. A week later, council took a decision to remove Mlokoti. They claimed to have no problem about being put under administration, but had a problem with the administrator.
Xasa, wrote back on April 3, saying there were no reasons to remove Mlokoti or alter his powers...
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