Moyahabo Mabeba
The Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality in Sekhukhune, Limpopo could not wait a few more days until the local government elections before replacing their PR councillor.
Azapo said they replaced Joseph Thokoane who has been their PR councillor since 2016 due to insubordination.
A new councillor, Julia Matjeding, was sworn in on Wednesday by magistrate Sebotse Mashabela to be a councillor in ward 25 for just five days.
Azapo’s provincial leader, Ngoako Moyaha said the decision to recall Thokoane was long overdue since he was no longer carrying out the party’s mandate.
Moyaha said, “Our previous councillor started doing things as he pleased. He did not update us on what was happening in the council and that did not sit well with us,” said Moyaha.
He said they took a resolution in December 2019 to suspend him and started with the replacement processes but the municipality did not take them seriously. They elevated the matter to the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Housing and Traditional Affairs and nothing happened until this week.
Matjeding said her inauguration was futile. She accused the municipality of delaying her inauguration, which was supposed to have taken place in December 2019.
“This inauguration is nothing to make a song and dance about. Quite frankly, it’s just a sham,” she said.
She said it should have been implemented a long time ago because it would have given her an opportunity to work for the people of her ward.
“Now it is too little too late.”
Matjeding is also a councilor candidate for the upcoming elections.
Lemson Moropyane, the municipal spokesperson, said after the council received a letter from Azapo informing them of its resolution, Thokoane was informed that he would be recalled.
He said, “We can now confirm that there is a new councilor in Makhuduthamaga.”
