The new mayor promises to work with the community to ensure that services are delivered.
THE NEWLY-ELECTED mayor of Phokwane Municipality, Olebogeng Tumodi, has promised to work together with the community to ensure that services are delivered
The Phokwane council was dissolved and placed under administration in May.
Court battles and internal struggles arose as the municipality had two mayors and two speakers who held parallel council meetings and issued different sets of instructions, while the expelled councillors refused to step down.
This led to the 2019/20 budget not being approved while councillors continue to side step the implementation of the Section 106 report that was compiled in 2015 but was only released in January 2019.
At his inauguration on Friday Tumodi apologised to the community for the events that had unfolded at the municipality.
“My election is not for personal gain but a call for action, a call to change lives. We know and have seen what has happened in this municipality before, resulting in council dissolution. I would like to apologise to the community on behalf of this newly elected council. I make a commitment to work together with the administration of Phokwane to ensure that quality services are provided.”
He indicated that the 2020/21 budget for Phokwane municipality was approved by the provincial government executive committee (exco).
“A temporary budget was approved in July 2020 on condition that when this council is duly elected, it will be revisited. In October the provincial exco approved a special adjustments budget for 2020/’21 that will also be reviewed by the newly elected council.”
Tumodi undertook to implement clean governance and accountability at the municipality.
“Council will oversee the implementation of the integrated Development Programme. Our first task already is to adopt the adjustment budget soon and also make sure that the financial recovery plan is championed by National Treasury.
“We will aggressively address the human settlement needs particularly in Nkandla, Utlwanang, Masakeng and Guldenskat. I appeal to the community to have patience as we pay urgent attention to the concerns raised by them during the election campaign trail. They have been noted and will not fall on deaf ears.
“It is not going to be an easy task but however working together we will achieve it.”
Spokesperson for the ANC Frances Baard region, Tshepo Louw, congratulated Tumodi along with the new speaker Remaketse Portia Selogilwe and ANC chief whip Motlagosebatho Mohale who were inaugurated at Phokwane Municipality on Friday.
He added that as part of the process of proportional representation, Willem Haremse and Tsholofelo Mathe were seconded to the Frances Baard District Municipality.
“The region wishes to remind the newly elected leaders to focus their undivided attention on improving service delivery.”
