SAMWU Welcomes the Placing of Thabazimbi Local Municipality Under Administration
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Limpopo has welcomed the Limpopo Executive Council led by Premier Phophi Ramathuba for its intention to place the Thabazimbi Local Municipality under section 139(1) (c) administration.
Ramathuba addressed the media after a special Executive Council meeting held today at the Ranch Hotel near Polokwane.
She said that the proposal to place the municipality under administration comes after a thorough report was presented to the Executive Council which has been under review since 2022, outlining ongoing governance and management problems within the municipality.
According to Ramathuba, the report reveals serious dysfunctions within the municipal council, exacerbated by a high vacancy rate in crucial management roles.
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SAMWU said that this decision will put to rest all political machinations by different political parties vying for power in the municipality through court processes whilst neglecting to ensure provision of good and quality services to the residents of Thabazimbi.
“SAMWU is also happy that this decision will ultimately ensure much needed administrative stability where workers were not paid their salaries on time, or their third parties not paid whilst others are suspended for raising working-class perspectives so much needed in this time of our revolution,” said the statement
“SAMWU calls on all its members to welcome and support this intervention and to mobilise all mass democratic formations to develop a political program to reclaim this municipality through the ballot box,” concluded the statement
Meanwhile The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water & Sanitation), Mr Mxolisi Kaunda, has noted the decision by the Limpopo Executive Council to invoke provisions of Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution and dissolve the Thabazimbi Local Municipality Council.
“The local government sphere is an important driver of service delivery and should at all times operate efficiently and effectively to ensure that quality services are rendered to the people and the Constitution enshrined Section 139 to ensure intervention where there is a gap,” Mr Kaunda said.
The committee is yet to receive formal notification of the decision but will ensure thorough consideration of the basis for the decision as required in Section 139 (3), which empowers the National Council of Provinces to approve/disapprove the dissolution before the expiry of 14 days from the date of receipt of the notice to intervene.
SAMWU Welcomes the Placing of Thabazimbi Local Municipality Under Administration