African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Member Zizi Kodwa says the party will not be intimidated by certain individuals who left the ANC for their personal gains. Kodwa was on a campaign trail in Qwaqwa. In 2018, 16 councillors in Maluti-A-Phofung were expelled for voting with the opposition in the removal of the then-Mayor Vusi Tshabalala.
The ANC was campaigning in the financially troubled municipality. The common ground is to improve the provision of water and electricity. The municipality owes Eskom more than R5 billion. Residents are showing reluctance to cast their votes in the upcoming local government elections.
NEC member Zizi Kodwa says the ANC is back to correct the issue of service delivery in Maluti-A-Phofung
“We are aware now that those who don’t win in the ANC processes form their own organisations because they are not about serving the people, they about serving themselves. And I think these processes that we are introducing are helping the ANC to cleanse itself of those individuals who infiltrated the ANC for the longest time. And this is the issue that we are dealing with, even here in Maluti-A-Phofung, that we had individuals who infiltrated the ANC for their own personal gains. But when the ANC nominates someone else, they go and form another organisation.”
Challenges that have been facing Maluti-A-Phofung residents:
Other parties campaign
Meanwhile, MAP 16 Civic Movement says it is gunning for all wards and Thabo Mofutsanyane District for local government elections.
The civic movement was formed by sixteen former ANC councillors who were expelled from the party in 2018. MAP16 spokesperson, Paratlane Motloung says they understand the frustration of residents on water and electricity provision and want to improve that.
“ In our consultation with the community, what they’ve said is that, if we could manage two things which are water and electricity and the rest will follow. So our vision is to get the basics right, being water, electricity, refuse removal, road maintenance, and at least people should have a sustainable supply of water.”
The African Content Movement (ACM) and the independent candidates are also on the ground.
“We as ACM want to change the issue of water and electricity in Maluti-A-Phofung, we are also checking the issue of unemployment,” says ACM spokesperson Moratuwa Mphuthi.
An independent candidate in Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality, Tshidiso Charlie, says his priority is to address the issues of unemployment among the youth. Charlie says many businesses have closed down and now youth have nothing to do.
“As an independent, the plan is to develop youth, especially on the business side and issues of water and electricity are also a priority. We also want to fight unemployment.”
