First council sitting for Sekhukhune District Municipality to take place within 10 days: Manager

The Municipal Manager in the Sekhukhune District Municipality says the inaugural council sitting will be reconvened within ten days from Thursday.

This after it collapsed over disputes among African National Congress (ANC) councillors regarding top posts. Maureen Ntshudisane acceded to some ANC councillors’ request to adjourn the meeting.

The ANC councillors in the district municipality are divided on the mayoral position. Some councillors are in favour of retaining the former executive mayor Stan Ramaila while the other faction prefers a mayor from the three shortlisted nominees: Julia Mathebe, Maleke Mokganyetsi and David Chego.

There is another group of ANC members who have sought an urgent interdict from the High Court in Polokwane, to stop the election of Ramaila.

Ntshudisane says the council sitting was adjourned after a request.

“There is a request for the item of the election of office-bearers to be deferred in terms of Structures Act 29(2), the district municipality must have been fully constituted with its office bearers within 14 days of the last local municipality. We’ve already gone four days. It is in terms of Rule 7. 4(I) that we are considering the deferment as has been requested and I will then request our Secretariat to read the rule,” says Ntshudisane,” says Ntshudisane.