MAP Council branded ‘a joke’ amidst chaos

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – Frustrated Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) councillors lament that the community perceives them as a joke, branding the council a “Mickey Mouse show” after yet another meeting collapsed due to a lack of quorum.

A council meeting held on February 12 descended into chaos when Executive Mayor Malekula Melato clashed with Speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini while attempting to correct Municipal Manager (MM) Advocate Motsoahae Mofokeng, who had stepped out of the meeting without permission.

“MM, you cannot leave the council while it is still sitting. It is not acceptable,” Dlamini warned.

With only 35 councillors present, the meeting failed to meet the quorum requirement, underscoring deep divisions within the council, particularly among members of the Troika. The MAP16 councillors boycotted the session due to ongoing grievances with the municipality.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor Chicco Mkwanazi stated that tensions within the Troika have reached a breaking point, alleging that the executive mayor and Chief Whip Moeketsi Lebesa have formed an alliance, isolating Speaker Dlamini.

“The community of Maluti-a-Phofung sees us as a joke. They believe we are councillors who do not care about serving them. The municipality is collapsing due to a lack of leadership within the Troika.

“The executive mayor sides with the chief whip, leaving the speaker on his own. The agenda for this meeting clearly shows that certain individuals are here to serve personal interests. This council collapsed today because members of the Troika have special interests,” Mkwanazi told the media.

All Unemployment Labour Alliance (AULA) councillor Pitso Thiteli expressed frustration and disbelief at the situation.

“I have never seen anything like this. Even the directors and municipal officials here today must be shocked at how the executive mayor conducted himself. We are accountable to the community, yet they view us as ‘Mickey Mouse cartoons’ because of this behaviour.

“When we walk the streets, community members don’t even want to hear from us because they don’t take us seriously,” Thiteli said.

Speaker Dlamini echoed similar concerns, stating that despite repeatedly asking councillors to declare their interests, many deny having any, yet the agenda exposes personal motives.

“Because we are only 35, we have to adjourn the council. I must tighten some screws. We have committed to serving the people of Maluti-a-Phofung, yet those who should be accountable are the ones causing disruptions.

“Next week, the portfolio committee of COGTA is coming to assess our municipality, and this is how we behave? The Machabeng Local Municipality was placed under Section 139 due to governance failures—we are heading in the same direction,” Dlamini warned.

Section 139 of the South African Constitution allows provincial governments to intervene in municipalities that fail to fulfil their executive obligations. This intervention can include issuing directives, assuming certain municipal functions, or even dissolving the council and appointing an administrator.

If Maluti-a-Phofung continues to face governance and leadership failures, the provincial government may be forced to step in, potentially dissolving the council and imposing state intervention.

As the custodian of legislative authority, Speaker Dlamini reaffirmed his responsibility to hold councillors accountable and ensure the municipality functions effectively.