North West Province Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC, Paul Sebegoe has congratulated newly-elected mayors and executive mayors calling upon them to serve communities with selflessness and vigour.
Twenty-three mayors were elected at various council sittings during the course of last week. Of the twenty-three elects, 5 were re-elected and out of the overall figure 10 are women.
"Communities are expecting improved services because they have put their trust in all these councillors by re-electing them. They should hit the road running and truly demonstrate that they can deliver services to the poor," says Sebegoe.
He said his department is at the coalface of the impending roll out of the New Growth Path Strategy and the provincial growth and development strategy for economic growth and job creation.
"We want to see a system of local government that works, delivers and responds directly to the needs of our people in providing basic essential services and creating job opportunities. It is in this light that we will be monitoring the performance of municipalities very closely and paying meticulous attention to the workings of municipal systems and processes," Sebegoe explained.
The re-elected mayors are Councillor Elizabeth Moloi (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality), Kaone Lobelo (formerly Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality now Mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality), Cecilia Poyane (Ventersdorp Local Municipality), Andrew Maphetle (Tlokwe Local Municipality).
He also applauded the election of the first Mayor of the newly-merged Kagisano-Molopo local municipality, Councillor Ontlametse Mochware who was the mayor of kagisano local municipality. He also expressed gratitude to the communities of former Kagisano and Molopo for their cooperation during the process of merging the two municipalities.
A Management Transitional Committee (MTC) has been put in place to ensure smooth transition. The committee comprises officials from the Departments of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Provincial Treasury, Kagisano and Molopo local municipalities, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Meanwhile, the department is currently working with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Municipal Finance Unit in the Provincial Treasury to roll out an induction programme for all councillors in the province.
Enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane
Tel: 018 388 2391
Cell: 072 542 8444
