Thabazimbi Municipality | Premier announces municipal council dissolution

THABAZIMBI - Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba says she’ll not shy away from taking tough decisions, irrespective of who is involved.

On Friday Ramathuba informed councillors and officials of Thabazimbi Municipality, that the province will take over control with immediate effect.

Ramathuba dissolved the municipal council due to infighting amid allegations of corruption and lack of service delivery.

After the 2021 local government elections, a DA-led coalition formed the government but were later ousted by an ANC-led coalition after a disputed no-confidence motion.

Since then, the municipality has had two mayors, and two municipal managers, and according to a parliamentary report, salaries of workers who were not on good terms with some officials were not paid.

The premier said, “Now some of the issues as you’ve indicated, there are workers who were not paid for over three months. But secondly, also in terms of service delivery, this municipality owes Eskom more than R300 million." 

"Yes you may say it’s not the only municipality that owes Eskom, but what we know is that Treasury and the minister of Electricity working together came up with how they can assist municipalities which are owing, there were terms which must be complied with, this municipality couldn’t, therefore, Treasury withdrew that package." 

"Magalies which is the water authority board, is owed more than R180 million.”

Aggrieved by the province’s resolution to dissolve the municipal council, some councillors challenged this decision in court, but the matter was struck off the roll.

Local business people who say they haven’t been paid for work done, are happy that the present council has been shown the door.

Even though councillors are taking the flak, some of the workers are calling for introspection.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa says by-elections for the whole of Thabazimbi Municipality will be held by December.