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DINSDAG 21 JANUARIE 2014
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GRATIS
Call for unity made Meeting held to discuss situation in Moqhaka Tharine Hurter “BLACKS and whites divided means a community that cannot stand together. Then we fall,” said Mpho Maleho, representative of the group Bana ba Mozolo (Children of Maokeng). A meeting was held by representatives of The Gatvol Business Action Group, AfriForum, The Community Chest, Bana ba Mozolo, Kroonstad Business and Tourism (KB&T) and the councillors of the DA in Moqhaka, together with frustrated Moqhaka Municipality employees who wanted to get rid of Mncedisi Mqwathi, the municipal manager (MM), and all the directors at the municipality. The meeting unanimously agreed that the situation in Moqhaka had a negative impact on everyone in the community and that the time had come to stand together. The Gatvol Business Action Group, represented by Rudi Brits, said that he and the group would also support the employees of Moqhaka to legally eradicate corrupt leadership in Moqhaka. The employees went on strike until 12:00 last Wednesday. This was due to Mqwathi and one of the directors Portia Tshabalala who pitched at the municipal offices. The 875 employees went on strike again and “fired the MM and all the directors” and prohibited them from entering the municipal building in Kroonstad to allegedly “remove evidence”. All organisations present at the meeting agreed that the main goal was to root out corruption and speed up efficient service delivery to all in the Moqhaka Municipality. The people were unhappy that Jihad Mohapi, the executive mayor, had taken three days to come forward to listen to the allegations of corruption as stated when the workers had instituted a shutdown and demanded the immediate resignation of Mqwathi and his directors. Mokete Duma, former municipal manager of Moqhaka and now head of the Department of Cooperative and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), intervened during the shutdown, because it was threatening the provision of services and smooth-running of Moqhaka. The employees present at the meeting said that they and Cogta had “agreed to disagree” that the proposed audit by Cogta could not be accepted, because Duma had a conflict of interest. The group of employees demanded an
‘The time is ripe to show the governing ANC that in Mo qhaka the people across all spheres of social life have had enough of their neglect.’ – Mariette Pittaway independent forensic audit of the situation in Moqhaka. Kroonnuus learnt that some of the allegations of expenses regarding the private entertainment of Mqwathi and accommodation had in fact been approved for payment by the very same Cogta. It is assumed that this might be the reason for the former chief of finance’s 24-hour resignation from the municipality. The DA said that since the council briefing last week, no further information regarding the situation had been communicated to the DA by Mohapi. Municipal workers had taken strong action that was effective to a certain degree and were now threatened by Cogta, which had initially promised to tend to the concerns raised. The gathering was adamant that Moqhaka should not be put under administration, because the very same provincial government who had appointed and approved the wrong-doings at Moqhaka, would then be in power. It is common knowledge that Mqwathi was reinstated as municipal manager under the insistence of Free State Premier Ace Magashule the year before last. The concerned parties requested that the community supported the joint actions to be taken by the groups. The DA made available all its correspondence and documentation previously submitted to the council, requesting information and clarity that would expose corruption to the meeting. In this case the municipal workers shared the frustration of residents. “Let us unite to drive out corruption, mismanagement and the abuse of power in our municipality. The time is ripe to show the governing ANC that in Moqhaka the people across all spheres of social life have had enough of their neglect,” DA caucus leader, Mariette Pittaway, said.
Keelvol vir swak diens
DACO CONRADIE, ’n eiendomsmakelaar van Kroonstad, het Donderdag vullis wat etlike weke nie by sy sakeperseel óf woning verwyder is nie, voor die munisipale kantoor in Hill straat, Kroonstad, gestort. “Die beeld van Kroonstad na buite is negatief,” sê hy. Hy wil sy ontevredenheid hiermee wys. Sedert hy uit sy eie die vullissakke hier kom stort het, het die hoop sakke gegroei. Teen gisteroggend was die meeste van die vullis voor die munisipale kantore verwyder, hoewel ’n klomp vullis voor die betaallokaal se ingang ge strooi is. Foto: Tharine Hurter
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