The EFF’s Tsholo Ranchobe tells OFM News that both the mayor and speaker, Mxolisi Siyonzana and Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane, failed to try and address the regress and wastage at the metro despite holding prominent positions. He says Siyonzana is weak and accountability is something he lacks. He is of the opinion that the metro would still struggle in terms of getting proper reports from Siyonzana’s office as the mayor. 

Meanwhile, DA councillor Mokgadi Kganakga says Siyonza is a failed speaker and one cannot expect a failed speaker to be a successful mayor. Kganakga lashed out at Siyonzana for the shenanigans which involved the former Municipal Manager (MM) Tankiso Mea.

“We as the DA are very concerned about his appointment but we will be watching the space and we will continue to hold the ANC, their politicians, and their administration accountable. Siyonzana said he was the speaker for over 12 years and in his 12 years as the speaker, all he has done successfully was to bring Mea to our shores and avoid accountability and responsibility,” she adds.  

Meanwhile, OFM News on Friday 13 August 2021 reported that there was a heavy backlash towards the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) for the election of Siyonzana as the mayoral candidate.

The former spokesperson for the previously disgruntled ANC members, Monnapule Ntamo, who took the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) to the High Court over its constitutionality, says the IPC appears as if it’s not interested in resolving all that went wrong.

Ntamo told OFM News that the election of Siyonzana as the candidate for the mayoral position is a step backwards and it fails to take into account the damage inflicted on the metro with Siyonzana previously present in the upper echelons.

However, Siyonzana hit back at naysayers during a media briefing on Monday following his election. He addressed critics who feel that he has failed to address financial mismanagement and other critical issues at the metro over the past decade. He said he has - on previous occasions - written letters to the previous executive as well as the ANC, to try and address issues of non-compliance - especially regarding legislature policies. Siyonzana said at one point he was hindered when he wanted to address issues surrounding at least five large loans from Absa and Standard Bank, among others.

OFM News