The North West Provincial Government, led by Cooperative Governance MEC Gaoage Molapisi and Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, were in Zeerust to announce urgent interventions at the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, which has been paralyzed by political infighting and allegations of unlawful conduct.
The current crisis stems from a contested council meeting on July 9th, which resulted in the removal of then-mayor Dinah Pitso and the installation of Itumeleng Moarabi as the new mayor. Since that meeting, the municipality has been thrown into chaos, with both individuals claiming the mayoral office, despite both being members of the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC has since intervened and removed Itumeleng Moarabi as a councillor.
The political wrangling has been compounded by reports of intimidation by outsiders and a shooting incident at the municipal offices last week, which has left employees fearing for their safety and refusing to come to work.
The provincial government’s arrival coincides with a special council meeting that was underway. However, the meeting itself became a point of contention when councillors from the main opposition party, the Forum for Service Delivery, staged a walkout.
Kgomotso Ledikwa, a councillor for the Forum for Service Delivery, explained his party’s reasons for leaving. He declared the special council meeting unlawful, alleging the Speaker failed to issue the proper notice within the required 48 hours as stipulated by council rules. Ledikwa also claimed his party was denied the opportunity to debate the legitimacy of the council itself.
“We are going to take this matter to court,” stated Ledikwa. He further asserted that the municipality currently has no legitimate mayor. While Dinah Pitso has resumed the mayoral position, Ledikwa disputes this, citing that the July 9th meeting which removed her was legitimate and that she lost subsequent court challenges. However, with Moarabi’s expulsion by the ANC, Ledikwa argues the council should have elected an acting mayor, a process he claims has been impossible due to the ongoing instability.
The situation remains highly volatile. A large contingent of police officers is present at the municipal offices, a direct response to the recent shooting and the heightened tensions. The nature of the provincial government’s intervention, to be announced by MEC Molapisi, is awaited as the only potential path to stabilizing the dysfunctional municipality.
