Community demands removal of councillor

By Masilo Malakwane

QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung Council Speaker, Paratlane Motloung has confirmed receipt of a petition from the Ward 14 community, demanding the removal of their councillor, Pulane Makae of the ANC.  

Residents of Bolata Section such as Theosane, Phamong and Madiboho marched to Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality’s headquarters on Wednesday last week, to submit a memorandum of grievances and a petition requesting the Speaker and municipal manager to intervene as they bid to remove their card councillor for failing to become a link between them and the Municipality.

Some of the accusations levelled against the ward councillor are that she favours her fellow comrades in community projects and neglects other community members. They claim she has used nepotism when she hired Indigent data collectors and in toilet projects.

Community representative Skhosana Sehloho said the councillor has not held any community meeting since she was elected last November.

“Our councillor is arrogant. She failed us in her role to perform her duties in our ward. She runs this ward through WhatsApp and she is very biased. She must step down,” said Sehloho.

Anna Motaung of Phamong village is also calling for the removal of the councillor, saying they are tired of the struggle to access the most basic of services.

“Imagine having to book an appointment to get a simple proof of residence letter! But she would rather play cards with her friends who are the one’s benefiting while we are forced to go to neighbouring wards to request services,” said Motaung.

The residents gave the municipality seven days to respond to their demands including those outlined in the memorandum.

Meanwhile, Motloung who signed and received the petition and memorandum, promised to respond after consultations, as he neither appoints nor fires councillors.

“We all know that councillors are deployed by their various political parties. Administratively, ward councillors report to my office, but I will do my best to address all your challenges because, as a council, our duty is to listen to you and accelerate service delivery,” said Motloung.

Approached for comment, Makae denied all allegations levelled against her. Among others, she said she had assigned members of the community in various ward sections to issue proof of residence letters.

“As for hiring my fellow comrades, I understand a comrade to be someone a card declaring then as such, but all the people that I have hired are not card caring ANC members,” said Makae.