Dear Editor
The ANC-Led Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipal Council has once again shown they believe themselves untouchable, and the provincial government’s inaction is emboldening them.
Yesterday afternoon, during a special council meeting, the ANC unilaterally appointed Mkhululi Whitey Mbebe as the new Municipal Manager, refusing to allow the matter to go to a vote, or to call a division.
This, despite thousands of residents from Cradock taking to the street last week to protest against the mafia-style leadership of the IYLM, and threats of further civil unrest should Mbebe be appointed.
Mbebe has been implicated in a Section 106 report drafted under the Municipal Systems Act, and has a case of stock theft pending against him, which actually goes to trial today.
He has also been acting MM while municipal services have collapsed, with electricity outages, water outages and sewerage leaks becoming commonplace.
Mbebe’s appointment follows the acting Speaker, Sibongile Victor Masawe, unilaterally appointing Khathustshelo Lucky Mulaudzi as the Chief Financial Officer during a council meeting beset with issues just over a week ago, despite Council having resolved in January to never appoint Mulaudzi again.
That meeting, on 18 February 2022, also saw the municipality’s actual Speaker, Tembakazi Mbotya, held captive and intimidated in her own home.
It has become abundantly clear that the IYLM council has been captured and is being run by a Mafia-style cartel, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that their people are in positions of power that will enable them to further plunder the municipal coffers and enrich their cadres.
The Democratic Alliance has previously written to the COGTA MEC, Xolile Nqatha, to raise our concerns regarding what has been happening in Inxuba Yethemba, but the MEC has chosen to turn a deaf ear to the plight of residents.
I have once again engaged the MEC and have asked him to intervene. His failure to act is a further indictment on the ANC and its utter contempt for the people of this province.
Provincial government’s failure to intervene is also a direct violation of its constitutionally mandated responsibilities.
The situation in IYLM is extremely volatile, residents are fed up with the uncaring attitude of so-called leaders, who are oblivious to their needs. Unless drastic action is taken, immediately, these tensions could boil over and turn violent.
The DA will continue to monitor the situation in IYLM, including the stock theft case against Mbebe, and will ensure that those responsible for the municipality’s woes are held to account.
Regards
Vicky Knoetze, MPL
DA EC Shadow MEC for COGTA