The Lephalale Municipality held its Fourth Council following the August 3rd Elections. Staunch supporters of the ANC and EFF were very visibly represent outside the council in their party t-shirts to show support to their elected leaders
According to the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, the Municipal Manager must call the first meeting of the Council within 14 days after the Council has been declared elected. The election results were officially declared on the 6 of August 2016. The meeting was opened by Pastor Papo with a short sermon and prayer encouraging the leaders to lead well.
Councillors were sworn in by the Magistrate to affirm their commitments to the community of Lephalale and the country as a whole. The councillors took an oath to be faithful, respectful, obey and uphold the Constitution and Laws of South Africa.
Cllr Moloko Jack Maeko has been elected to run as Mayor for the next 5 years, he will be running for a second term. Maeko said the council will not tolerate unethical behaviour of some the public representatives. He says such leaders are now proving to the community that they committed an error voting them in. He was referring to newly elected into council house EFF representatives, who constructively walked out during nomination of Chief Whip (Cllr Alpheus Thulare), Speaker (Cllr Regina Molokomme) and the Mayor (Cllr Moloko Maeko), who are all from the ANC.
“We meet here today at this August occasion to witness the constitution of the new municipal council which the voters have entrusted with authority for the next year. As the newly elected Mayor of Lephalale Municipality, I take this opportunity to state that I remain a humble servant of you, the people. I am more than humbled by your Faith and the unwaving confidence you have shown in me, to become the fourth democratically elected mayor of this great municipality”, said Maeko.
Maeko highlighted the importance of council, saying sitting isn’t child’s play but a platform where the future of the community is decided and proceedings in the house must carry respect and as a result representatives must not sit outside when robust discussions and strategic decisions are made.
In terms of economic transformation, he promised a conducive environment to Eskom Matimba and Medupi as well as Exxaro, however he says that will not come on a silver platter. “Businesses in Lephalale are encouraged to employ 60% of their workforce in Lephalale with 100% of employment expectation of General workers and semi-skilled. This is not negotiable”, said Maeko.
He says his aim is to achieve 100% electrification in this term. Maeko thanked Lephalale Municipal Manager Edith Tukakgomo for filling almost all positions of executive managers and promised a clean governance that will recruit based on qualifications and experience capacity as opposed to tribalism, nepotism and political affiliation.