By: ANG Reporter
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has accused the DA and the EFF of working together with civic movements in Ditsobotla Municipality to bring back all the compromised and corrupt officials who brought this municipality to its knees.
In a statement, PA national spokesperson Steve Motale said on Thursday, 8 June, the DA’s questionably elected acting speaker, Cllr. Ronald Matlholoa, exploited the illness and death of the ANC speaker, Fikile Jakeni, to call
a council meeting where PA Mayor Elizabeth Lethoko was voted out in a motion of no
confidence.
“We have accepted this, despite some irregularities around the process, but one can only laugh when considering how confusing life must feel for the DA nowadays.”
“A new coalition grouping of the DA, EFF, Save Ditsobotla Movement and Forum For Service Delivery (F4SD) has installed Thabo Nkashe of F4SD as the new mayor.”
“We are not sure where the Freedom Front Plus councillor stands on these developments, since the grouping reaches the voting threshold of 20 councillors on their own.”
Motale said the DA appeared to have taken advantage of F4SD’s hunger for power “in a move that makes a mockery of their commitment to not trading for positions in coalitions”.
“Jakeni was still being mourned at a memorial service, with his body barely cold, before these opportunists used this moment to get themselves into a new coalition government.”
“The DA has conveniently also forgotten its criticism of coalitions in Gauteng metros where mayors were elected from minority parties. It has suited them now to do the very same in Ditsobotla.”
“As the PA we have no problem with any party voting with any other party to get into power. The PA has routinely said that we are willing to work with anyone when it comes to coalitions, but the DA made a solemn promise to its voters to never work with the EFF.”
“We believe such holier-than-thou attitudes don’t work in the real world, and the DA has now had to face up to the reality that it’s much easier to say these things than stick to them and do them.”
Motale accused the the DA and the EFF of joining hands “to put F4SD in power, and we wish them the very best of luck”.
“More than luck will be needed to turn Ditsobotla around, however. This municipality deserves better. Previously, national government had to dissolve the municipality and run fresh elections in December last year after chaos reigned, with two mayors, two speakers and two municipal managers.”
Motale said conflicts between these factions led to gunfire and a siege of the municipal building.
“The towns of Lichtenburg, Coligny and surrounds have been run into the ground. The PA has refused to participate in another ongoing circus, and hence have accepted that the new government is what the majority of councillors want. The PA does not need to be in power at all costs.”
“The DA will, however, have much explaining to do if their new F4SD mayor does what rumours suggest is imminent, or may have already happened: bringing back all the compromised and corrupt officials who brought this municipality to its knees in the first place.”
