Lebesa rubbishes key position claims

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWAQWA – The leader of the Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa Moeketsi Lebesa has dismissed as untrue and unfounded reports that negotiations on a coalition government have also decided on who will take key positions in the Maluti-A-phofung local municipality council.

Social media has suggested that Lebesa is tipped for the Speaker’s position, Gilbert Mokotso of Map16 Civic Movement for mayor and Economic Freedom Fighters’ Mohau Molwelwe for chief whip.

Lebesa described the reports as ‘nothing but a campaign designed to disrupt negotiations on the formation of coalition government in Maluti-a-phofung after no party could win an outright majority in the November 1 local government elections.

“There are mean people on social media who are peddling lies and untruths about coalition arrangements in Maluti-A-phofung municipality. These rumours are aimed at derailing the process of political horse trading currently taking place. The rumours that Map 16’s Gilbert Mokotso is executive mayor while Moeketsi Lebesa and Mohau Molwelwe are Speaker and chief whip respectively, are false, misleading and outrageous in the extreme to say the least.

“Mr Molwelwe is not even on the Map EFF list propositional representation list. The negotiation is an intensive process. Political horse trading involves a lot of talking, wooing, concessions and a lot of compromises before relationships are consummated into marriage. We cannot not just jump into bed with any pretty party we meet. We need to talk and understand each other’s intentions in a marriage. This takes time,” Lebesa emphasised. 

Echoing Lebesa’s sentiments, Map16 spokesperson Mmutlanyana Sekete did not rule out  a possibility that a mayor could come from Map16.

“There is a possibility that the mayor could come from Map16. But we are currently busy discussing those positions.”

The Guard has learnt that the first council sitting of Maluti-A-phofung after the elections is expected to sit on Wednesday.