In a move considered to be a bold one, the interim leadership of the ANC in Mangaung is alleged to have forced Patrick Monyakoane, a staunch ally of the Provincial Coordinator, Paseka Nompondo, to step aside from his roles as both the Interim Regional Committee (IRC) member as well as his public representation in the municipal council.
Three independent sources close to the developments say this was a unanimous decision taken in a meeting by the regional structure following the appearance of Patrick Monyakoane in Thaba Nchu regional court in June this year on charges of assaulting a fellow ANC member, Nkahiseng Sefume, after an ANC branch meeting held in 2012 in Thaba Nchu.
Step Up SA News has it on good authority that the meeting was held on Tuesday attended by Nompondo, Patrick Monyakoane, IPC members, and the Regional structure.
It reported Paseka Nompondo tried to stop the suspension of Patrick Monyakoane but regional leaders stood firm.
Rule 25.70 states: “Where a public representative, office-bearer or member has been indicted to appear in a court of law on any charge, the secretary-general or provincial secretary, acting on the authority of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee(NWC), the Provincial Executive Committee(PEC) or the Provincial Working Committee(PWC) may suspend such public representative, elected office-bearer or member and impose terms and conditions to regulate their participation and conduct during the suspension.”
It is for this reason, according to sources, that the IRC voted for him to step aside after he did not heed the National Executive Committee’s decision that all those who are affected by the rule should voluntarily step aside within 30 days.
The IRC then wrote to the Interim Provincial Committee (IPC), which is led by Mxolisi Dukwana to encompass their resolution on this matter.
It remains to be seen if the IPC will implement this resolution from its lower structure.
Its understood the IPC officials are meeting IRC members this morning at 08h30 to following the meeting on Tuesday.
Another source said Free State IPC is weak and they could learn from North West IPC.
“We have weak IPC who cant implement conference resolutions, tell me one thing tbe Free State IPC did since its formation apart from looking after interest? Nothing.
They must take a leaf from North West IPC under comrade Hlumani Chauke, he is decisive.”
Monyakoane is alleged to be the person behind the removal of former Mayor Olly Mlamleli and sources say he is a very powerful figure feared by many in that region.
In September, the Mangaung Concerned Community marched to the municipality demanding his sacking as MMC for Transport following allegations that he is the one forging ahead with the metro police saga despite warnings by the National Treasury that the move will cripple the municipality financially.
The letter from National Treasury ordered the disbandment of the newly established Mangaung Metro Police Services, referencing the municipality’s precarious financial and service delivery performance.
Writing to city manager Sello More and others, Malijeng Mgqaleni said the directive was not negotiable.
“This letter serves to again employ you as the accounting officer of the metro to supply National Treasury with all memorandums and reports that served at the council which was the basis for the decision to establish the metro police. It is also critical that the said documents include the decision-making process of how the councilors of the metros voted on this item (all decisions).”
“You are hereby advised to take the necessary steps to advise the council to rescind this ill-advised decision as soon as practically possible and to timeously advise the National Treasury of the position of the metro within the next 14 days,” said Mgqaleni.
Apart from jumping from one problem to the other Mangaung Municipality owes Bloem Water over R270 million and it’s difficult to mention the municipality and service delivery in one sentence let alone paragraph.
Many even joke that it’s the only Metro with potholes and they are so bad they can move a passenger from the back seat of a taxi to the driver’s seat.
The level of lawlessness in town is at its highest point and contributes to crime including smuggling of cars to neighboring Lesotho.
With infighting, it remains to be seen if the municipality will actually do what residents expect.
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