Outcry as ‘bad’ ex-mayor gets MEC post

North West - The appointment of Manketsi Tlhape as the MEC for local government and traditional affairs in North West has been met with wide criticism by those citing her bad leadership record as a mayor.

Tlhape was appointed MEC by Premier Thandi Modise last week in another reshuffling seen as having been highly influenced by the province’s ANC leadership and forced down the premier’s throat.

“Tlhape is a former mayor of Tswaing local municipality. Before she left under a cloud, her municipality and its administration had collapsed and been put under a section 139 administration. The Hawks and forensic investigations were also launched,” said the DA’s North West leader, Chris Hattingh.

It was under Tlhape’s watch as mayor of Tswaing that the ratepayers’ association took things upon themselves when they withheld rates payments and used the money to run basic services, including waste removal and water purification.

Reports were that the Tswaing municipality was headed for a collapse under Tlhape, and that the council was not able to provide basic services demanded in court by residents.

“Premier Modise’s statement that her focus in the reshuffling is on ‘accelerating service delivery and entrenching good governance’ sounds hollow if the appointment of (Tlhape) is considered,” Hattingh said.

“Tlhape’s appointment as the MEC responsible for local government is an insult to the people of North West and all victims of collapsing local government service delivery, which is something Tlhape has become synonymous with.”

Criticism in the same vein was heard when Tlhape was announced as the ANC’s preferred mayor for Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, under which Tswaing falls.

The council there failed to fall in with the party’s choice and elected Phaladi Saku instead of Tlhape. Saku has since been removed after she refused to step down voluntarily on ANC orders. An acting mayor was appointed.

Tlhape was seen as one of those who were very close to ANC North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo. He is also the Speaker of the provincial legislature and seen as the most powerful man in the province ahead of Modise, a former ANC deputy secretary-general, whose slate led by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe lost the party’s leadership race at Mangaung in December.

Cosatu also joined the DA in disapproving of Tlhape’s appointment, which the federation’s provincial secretary, Solly Phetoe, described as “factional”.

“(Tlhape) has failed the ANC and failed the poor as the mayor during her term at Tswaing Local Municipality.”

Attempts to get comment from Tlhape were unsuccessful.

poloko.tau@inl.co.za

The Star