ANC in NW blames ‘misunderstanding’ for Ditsobotla mayoral row
The ANC in North West says they believe a misunderstanding of the rules of procedures in council is to blame for the resignation of Elizabeth Lethoko as mayor of Ditsobotla municipality.
Lethoko, who is a member of the Patriotic Alliance, resigned hours after she was elected during a council meeting in Mahikeng on Monday.
The PA entered into a coalition agreement with the ANC, but the agreement unravelled due to a disagreement over the candidate for municipal manager.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ANC stated that the matter could have been avoided.
"The ANC strongly believes this could have been avoided as the people of Ditsobotla urgently yearn for a stable council which will deliver basic services, including cementing a sense of political tolerance amongst all parties represented in council.
"The objection to the announcement of an administrator during council was misplaced and unwarranted. It is unfortunate how at a later stage, Patriotic Alliance misrepresented facts on various media platforms on this matter".
The statement adds that the secondment from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) was very clear that, the appointment stands active until the new council gets appointed.
"According to the letter read in council, the secondment from Cogsta was very clear that, the appointment stands active until the new council gets constituted, and/or on their own accord, the Council appoint a new accounting officer on acting capacity from the directors or alternatively accept the secondment until the recruitment processes gets finalised.
"The point that leaves the ANC astonished is that, Mr Mashego presided over the council sitting until the speaker got elected. At no point did any political party including our coalition partner raised any concern on the legal standing of the administrator or anything of some sought until the announcement towards adjournment of council.
"The ANC wish to set the records straight that, the coalition agreements entered into with other political parties at a national level are based on principles of good governance and Ditsobotla will not become a pilot case where such principles could be trampled on based on emotions of a particular leader.”
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