By Thys Khiba
Executive Mayor councillor Dennis Khasudi and Speaker Sidney Pittaway in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality are expected to face the submitted motions of no confidence (MONC) on Thursday, 21 September 2023.
This comes after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) confirmed they have submitted the motion in accordance with Rules 87 and 90 of the Standing Rules and Orders.
The debate on the MONC against Khasudi is expected to be tabled by the EFF regional chairperson April Motaung at 10am at the Enoch Sontonga Council Chambers, Fezile Dabi District Municipality (FDDM).
Fezile Dabi Mayor and Speaker
The EFF has accused Khasudi of failing to provide political guidance over the fiscal and financial matters of the troubledmunicipality.
“It comes as no surprise that the EFF has submitted these motions because the municipality has been plagued with severe administrative turmoil due to the disregard of legislative prescripts and ineffective internal control systems.
“The stagnation of the municipality has been exacerbated by the lack of decisive leadership from the political head of the institution,” said EFF regional chairperson April Motaung.
As the district chairperson of MPAC, Motaung claimed that the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Khasudi failed to take steps that will enhance the current noncompliance in the municipality.
“The Auditor-General found that the Executive Mayor failed to ensure that prior year’s material issues were addressed and that there was no evidence of oversight responsibilities being exercised in monitoring compliance with laws and regulation,” Motaung said.
Motaung claims that Khasudi uses the same leadership style used by the DA councillor and Metsimaholo Local Municipality Executive Mayor Jeff Zwane by allegedly pleading innocence through ignorance of failure to put in place consequence management, “when the Auditor-General inquired about the status of a fraud case that was reported to SAPS relating to payments made to a fictitious bank account.”
“The Mayor was heavily exposed by section 52 of the MFMA in his failure to provide general political guidance over the fiscal and financial matters of FDDM,” Motaung said.
Meanwhile, the EFF Whip Mamokete Radebe is expected to table a debate on the MONC against Pittaway on the same day [Thursday, 21 September].
In addition to the claims made by the EFF, the party has accused Pittaway of being subjective and biased while executing his functions as a council speaker.
Compliance with Section 28 of the Municipal Structures Act which addresses subjects that are related to freedom of speech in council was used as an example by the EFF to strengthen their claims.
“The Speaker has failed in his role as a key in ensuring oversight, accountability, and efficient running of Municipal Council Meetings. He has also failed in being impartial in the execution of his functions as a Speaker.
Motaung has accused Pittaway of trying to silence councillors of EFF in the council.
“There has been a concocted attempt by the speaker to silence the EFF which is evident by his bias against councillors who are not affiliated with his political party.”
On 19 September, the EFF has opened criminal cases of fraud and corruption against municipal service providers Voluscore Consulting, Zama Compu World and Networking CC, and Refihlile Re Mona PTY Ltd at the Sasolburg Police Station.
The case was opened in relation to alleged prepayments made by the municipality to the abovementioned service providers. These payments were made before the services were rendered.
“The case was opened at the Sasolburg Police Station on Tuesday the 19th of September 2023 and the case number is CAS is 258/09/2023. The EFF will be following this case closely and urge the law enforcement agencies to execute their jobs diligently and not allow any political interference,” said Motaung.
In response to allegations levelled against Khasudi and Pittaway, the DA provincial leader Dr Roy Jankielsohn said Fezile Dabi and Metsimaholo municipalities are targeted by other political parties and leaders.
“There is a motion which we regard as frivolous and an attempt to destabilise the only well-run and stable district municipality in the Free State.
“While other municipalities are bankrupt and unable to deliver services, the two DA-run municipalities that are improving are targeted,” said Jankielsohn.
At the time of publishing this article Central News could not get a response from the troubled municipality.
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