By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Tensions within the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) council have escalated as MAP16 councillors continue to boycott council sittings due to unresolved issues over unpaid salaries.
During a recent council meeting held at the new MAP council chamber, it was revealed that the MAP16 councillors have been absent because their salaries were withheld for five months while they were expelled from the ANC.
The council speaker, Mandlenkosi Dlamini, explained that the matter had been brought to court but was later settled out of court. However, the municipality has yet to fulfil its agreement to pay the councillors.
“The MAP16 councillors’ salaries weren’t paid for a period of five months. I received the report and took it to the council, where it was verified and approved. However, the mayor insisted she must bring the matter back to the council, but she has not done so, leading to the current boycott,” Dlamini shared with the media.
According to the municipal standing rules and codes of conduct, councillors who are absent from three consecutive council sittings without a valid excuse are subject to fines.
DA councillor Alison Oates highlighted the issue, stating, “MAP16 councillors are holding the council to ransom for massive pay-outs for the time they were fired as ANC councillors. They refuse to attend, and they hold 20 seats. The quorum is 35. The speaker can impose fines, and we need to see if he will.”
The ongoing boycott and the enforcement of municipal standing rules and codes of conduct remain central to the resolution of this conflict within the Maluti-a-Phofung council.
Empty seats where MAP16 councillors are usually seated.
Chief Whip Moeketsi Lebesa provided further clarity, stating that the MAP16 councillors have requested a meeting with the Troika on February 14 to discuss the matter in detail. He emphasized that according to the standing rules, councillors cannot be absent without excusing themselves.
“I raised the issue of council failing to sit due to councillors’ absenteeism. We need a workshop on the different delegations and roles because at this municipality, we have a problem of people not knowing their roles,” Lebesa said.
