By Masilo Malakwane
QWAQWA – With only a day after the newly inaugurated coalition government, Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality has already received a massive demand from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The red berets want the municipality to allocate 900 sites to residents of MAP within six months.
The party regional chairperson, Mohau Molwelwe told The Guard that for more than two decades the issue of land redistribution in MAP has been swept under the carpet.
“Three to six months is enough time for the newly coalition leadership to officially allocate land to the people of MAP. The expropriation of land without compensation is one of our main cardinal points as the EFF,” Molwelwe said.
Asked why his party did not bring the demand during the previous ANC administration, Molwelwe did not mince his words as he launched a scathing attack on the liberation movement.
“The ANC has for years been extremely arrogant towards the community of MAP, let alone their interest in service delivery.”
The newly elected EFF councillors shocked all and sundry during the singing of the National Anthem, when they sat down during the Afrikaans portion of the Anthem. In addition, a sizeable EFF councillors opted for abstention during the voting process.
This all but divided the people of MAP on social media when on Tuesday this week seven of their councillors abstained from voting to elect the MAP troika during much anticipated first Council sitting.
However, Molwelwe stated that in an interview with the publication that the party decided to dump the coalition partners at the 11th hour because the EFF was itself holding out for the position of the Council Speaker.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Maluti a Phofung Council Speaker, Paratlane Motloung said “the EFF demands should be reviewed by the Council before proper procedures are followed because they are also part of decision making bloc in MAP Council.”
In addition, Motloung said they are aware of the impact and challenges facing the residents of MAP regarding the allocation of sites, and that it should be done in a proper manner and guided by the laws of the land.
“There are also municipal audit reports that will provide us with the correct context in order to make the right decisions in this regard.”
