Last week an ANC councillor, Molefe Morutse, was sworn in as the new mayor during a council sitting held in Mahikeng. However, his appointment has been met with controversy, as another ANC councillor, Mazwi Moruri, who was sworn in as mayor in January this year, insists that he still holds the position and challenges the legality of Morutse’s election.

Morutse’s ascension to the mayoralty has sparked a fierce dispute, with Moruri claiming that the council sitting that elected Morutse was unlawful. The disagreement has led to heightened tensions, with both councillors reportedly being escorted by security guards as they attempted to enter the council building a day after Morutse was sworn in.

In response to the escalating tensions, the North West ANC Secretary, Louis Diremelo, voiced his disappointment with Moruri’s actions. He criticised Moruri for questioning the authenticity of the resignation letters, which indicated that he had stepped down as mayor. 

Diremelo pointed out that, regardless of whether the letters were genuine, Moruri should have consulted the ANC before disputing the matter publicly.

“We are disappointed in comrade Mazwi because even if the letters were fake, I think comrade Mazwi knows he is serving on behalf of the ANC,” said Diremelo. 

“I think [he should have tried] to contact and talk to the ANC about all these particular things that he is calling shenanigans, because what we are trying to do as the organisation here is to stabilise that municipality for the sake of our people, for the interest of our people.”

Diremelo further emphasised that the ANC's focus was on bringing stability to the troubled municipality for the benefit of its residents. He also stressed that Moruri had been informed of the party’s decision in various meetings, and reaffirmed the ANC’s support for Molefe Morutse as the newly elected mayor. 

‘Commitment to unity and cooperation across political lines’

Diremelo also extended the party’s support for the newly elected speaker from the EFF, signalling a commitment to unity and cooperation across political lines to address the municipality’s challenges.

Diremelo also proposed that Ditsobotla hand over its electricity responsibilities to Eskom, which would take over the infrastructure maintenance, revenue collection, and overall management of the municipality’s electricity services.

“Let Eskom carry the issues of infrastructure, maintenance, and collection of revenue on behalf of Ditsobotla, fixing all the infrastructure there until we have a stable municipality. Then Eskom can return those powers that Eskom has taken,” Diremelo stated.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg