SIYABUSWA – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it will not reject anyone who wants to join them in fighting corruption at all cost.
The EFF said this after a decision by the African National Congress (ANC) to fire 15 of its councillors for collaborating with opposition to remove the mayor Thulare Madileng at the dysfunctional Dr JS Moroka municipality.
When asked if EFF would welcome the expelled councillors should they decide to join them, EFF caucus leader Jackson Malatjie told the paper his party welcomes any individual who wants to join them to end corruption. “The ANC councillors have had enough corruption happening in the municipality that is the reason why they supported a motion to remove the mayor,” Malatjie said. “This is victory for us because we support the municipal manager in his bid to expose and deal with corrupt officials in the municipality,” they said.
SEE ALSO: Madileng supports ANC’s decision to fire 15 councillors
The 14 ward councillors and 1 PR councillor were shown the exit door following an outcome of the Regional Disciplinary Committee (RDC) on Monday. They were found guilty of participating in an “irregular” council meeting held on 23 October 2019 where they supported a motion put by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to remove the mayor. “We welcome the decision taken by the RDC. These councillors’ actions have contributed to the destabilization of service delivery to the community and thus bringing also the ANC into disrepute,” said ANC regional spokesperson, Sello Matshoga.
“What makes the meeting illegal is that it’s in violation of the Municipal Structures Act in that the item was not submitted in time to the speaker by the Municipal Manager for consideration therefore as the party we were not afforded an opportunity to caucus,” Matshoga added. The municipality was also stripped of powers when it was put under administration by the Mpumalanga provincial government in January following political instability emanating from a long rift between mayor Thulare Madileng and municipal manager Thami Khubheka which had a negative impact on the delivery of services to the residents.
Matshoga assured residents of Siyabuswa things will be back to normal. “We once again, like to apologise to all residents in the municipal area, and wish to assure them that things will soon normalise and the municipality continue delivering services to the community at large,” he said. Matshoga also said that the party will seek to replace the expelled councillors. “The vacancies created by the expulsion of these councillors will in due course be filled accordingly,” he said.
