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The DA is concerned with the state of affairs in Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality. There is a total lack from those who govern the municipality to provide proper and effective leadership, impacting negatively on the residents.

The municipality has been unable to fill the crucial position of the Municipal Manager since October 2022 after the previous MM’s term ended. To make things worse, they still haven't appointed the directors for Public Safety, Transport and Security, and Spatial Planning, and the current Director of Corporate and Legal services has been suspended. The position of the MM has been advertised multiple times but has not been filled. It was again advertised in January this year, but shortlisting has still not taken place.

The Executive Mayor, Masechaba Lakaje-Mosia, has only appointed 4 MMCs, leaving departments like Infrastructure, Finance, Corporate and Legal, SPLUMA, and others without oversight. There seems to be no interest from the executive mayor to fill these critical positions.

Additionally, the acting Municipal Manager, seconded by the MEC, has been acting in this position for more than 6 months, against the Municipal Systems Act. But the worrying factor is that he is forced to function with minimal staff, negatively impacting the municipality administration.

The residents of Maluti-A-Phofung need a functional municipality. The DA has, therefore, written to the MEC of CoGTA, asking questions about when these crucial senior positions will be filled. We are calling on the ANC-led coalition to prioritise and compel the Executive Mayor to appoint MMCs, something that we have been raising for months now.

Issued by Moshe Lefuma - DA Chief Whip Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality