Former mayor makes a come back

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWAQWA – Map16 Civic Movement ‘s   Gilbert Mokotso is a new mayor of Maluti-a-phofung after defeating ANC’s Malekula Melato by 33 votes to 28.

Sixty -two out of 69 councillors cast their votes and there were no spoiled ballots, seven abstained. Paratlane Motloung was elected speaker with 32 votes against ANC’s Tumelo ‘s 30, while Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa DPSA Moeketsi Lebesa was elected chief whip.

In his acceptance speech Mokotso past his gratitude to the people who have voted for him but mostly to God and promised to hit the ground running.

“Maluti-a-phofung will no longer be the same. Indeed, we are free at last above all we must thank the ordinary people of Maluti-a-Phofung who cast their votes. We are humbled. Honorable speaker I commit this afternoon that our people cannot be better by quality of the speeches we are doing, but energy and determination to resolve the messes in Maluti-a-phofung.”

Mokotso is not new on the helm of Maluti-a-phofung having first ascended to the hot seat in 2018, only for his tenure to be cut short when he was fired from ANC along with 15 other councillors. They had accused the group of voting with the opposition to unseat the then mayor Vusi Tshabalala during the motion of no confidence piloted by Economic Freedom Fighters Mahlomola Majake who was then a councillor.

The Maluti-a-Phofung coalition is made up of Map16, DPSA, EFF; AIC, FFplus and SARKO.

Coalition partners comprising of MAP16, DPSA, EFF, ATM, AIC, AULA, FF PLUS and SARKO.

DPSA leader Moeketsi Lebesa had earlier confirmed discussions on coalitions in the municipality had been very robust but successful and made it clear that it would not enter a coalition government with the ANC.

“The coming weeks will be quite hectic as the council will have to work, in the face of possible sabotage from the ruling party,” said Lebesa.

The DA said they won’t be part of a coalition in the MAP but will vote with them to elect the troika. Party leader, Allison Oates said they will hold the coalition partners accountable should there be any acts of corruption and misuse of public funds in the troubled municipality.