….civic leaders doubt reasons
By Libuseng Nyaka
Free State ANC Secretary William Bulwane
QWA QWA – Civic opposition leaders doubt the real reasons behind the recent shake up at Maluti a Phofung municipality which resulted in the removal of the mayor and her replacement with another ANC party cadre.
The resignation of executive mayor Mofumahadi Mathokoana Mopeli attributed to ill-health has received mixed reactions from opposition parties who are suspicious of the reasons given by ANC Secretary William Bulwane.
Bulwane said former Executive Mayor of MAP would be transferred to the Legislature and be replaced by Sarah Moleleki who is the former chief whip of Thabo Mofutsanayana District. The position of Mayor of MAP is not new to her.
Congress of the People (Cope) councillor, Ntombizonke Tlhakuli said she did not believe that Mopeli had resigned due to illness.
“This is just a political decision by ANC. Mopeli was put under pressure to resign because there were things that she wanted to be done properly – a thing that ANC does not like. There is no change which will be brought by Sarah Moleleki except to serve ANC ‘s interests without disagreeing with them,” Tlhakuli said.
Democratic Alliance councillor, Mary Kleynhanse Leona said she felt sorry for Mopeli adding the mayor had the potential to lead the municipality given the chance but she had always been under political pressure from her seniors.
Her sentiments were echoed by councillor of ACDP Tefo Jacob Mosikidi, who said that the former Mayor had no power and was constrained from making independent decisions. She was always influenced by fellow ANC councillors, he added.
Mosikidi hoped Molelelki’s arrival as a mayor would bring changes hailing her as a strong and independent character able to put her fellow party members to order.
“She is very firm I have seen her in several meetings while she was a Chief whip at Thabo Mofutsanayana. She is free of political influence,” Mosikidi said.
But President of Dikwankwetla, Moeketsi Lebesa does not think
Moleleki was better than Mopeli. While Lebesa said he was not surprised with the changes made by ANC because every party has the right to deploy its members, he said
Moleleki could not be any way better than Mopeli. “Having worked with both of them, I know Moleleki was a mayor after we took over at independence. She left a good structure in place but she failed to build on the legacy of good administration we inherited. By
then the municipality did not include many places like it is today,” Lebesa said.
“Given opportunity to makeindependent decisions, Mopeli could have done better. But the problemis that ANC say they do everything collectively and so we see no change in Moleleki’s coming if she would also use the same approach of collective governing.”
Mopeli‘s deployment came after a scandalous report which alleged that some victims of tornado at Kerstel were compensated ona partisan basis. Mopeli was elected Executive mayor of MAP in 2011 after localgovernment elections taking over from the now Executive Mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana, Balekile Mzangwa.