The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in Mpumalanga coordinated a successful election process of the Speaker and the Executive Mayor for the Lekwa Local Municipality. The election of the Speaker was presided over by the Acting Head of Department, Mr Sam Ngubane, as designated by the MEC, Mr Mandla Msibi.
Twenty seven out of thirty Councillors participated in the virtual election process. Councillor Khotha obtained twenty votes to secure the position as Speaker. She presided over the election of the Executive Mayor, with Cllr Linda Dhlamini re-elected as the Executive Mayor, with twenty votes.
The Provincial Government invoked Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution in March this year to place the Lekwa Municipality under Administration. Mr Ngubane expressed the Department’s commitment to support the Municipality as a measure to improve the delivery of services. “We congratulate you for winning the support of the Council. As a Department, we look forward to work with you in a quest to improve the delivery of services for residents in Lekwa. We will do so in accordance with the Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution,” he said.
MEC Msibi congratulated both Khotha and Dhlamini for their successful elections. He says addressing service delivery challenges faced by the local communities should be on top of their priority list. He also urged them to provide leadership to Council in the efforts of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Lekwa. Mr Msibi says these can be achieved through the cooperation between all Councillors, community structures, the local community and the elected leadership.
Ends.
Issued by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs,
Contact Person: Mr George Mthethwa
Contact Numbers: 013 766 6572 / 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za
Facebook: @mpucogta
Twitter: @cogtamp