ANC's powermongering is hampering service delivery

Date: 09 August 2024 By: Kaizer Nengovhela

The ANC in Vhembe’s power-mongering continues to disrupt service delivery. Last week, a council meeting of Makhado Municipality was delayed for hours as councillors hurled insults at each other.

The standoff appears to be between the camp of the Speaker, Gumani Mukwevho Mitileni, and that of the mayor, Dorcus Mboyi. The Chief Whip, Sampson Baloyi, is seemingly also in the camp of the Speaker.

The rift became very apparent during the meeting on 22 July, which was scheduled to decide on the appointment of a chief financial officer (CFO). This special council meeting was scheduled by the municipal manager, Mr Kent Nemaname, after the Speaker seemingly refused to do so. A faction of the ANC still did not want to appoint Godfrey Raliphada as permanent CFO.

A day before the meeting on 22 July, the regional secretary of the ANC Vhembe Region, Rudzani Ludere, sent out a letter to ANC councillors, instructing them to boycott the meeting. A couple of councillors, such as the Speaker and the Chief Whip, heeded the call, but most others ignored it. The meeting went ahead and Raliphada was appointed.

During last Wednesday’s meeting, it was clear that the conflict had not been resolved. The meeting started at 14:00 but only ended after 19:00.

Councillors from the opposition parties, as well as some ANC councillors, voiced their discontent with the way in which the Speaker, Gumani Mukwevho Mitileni, conducted herself during meetings. They accused Mukwevho of using her power to dictate council proceedings. Several ANC councillors complained about being ignored by Mukwevho as she only acknowledges responses from the councillors in her camp.

The meeting became uncontrollable, with councillors standing up and hurling abuse at each other. The mayor tried to intervene and requested councillors to cooperate, but she was shouted down by members who questioned her authority. Even the Chief Whip’s efforts to calm the situation were unsuccessful.

The Speaker then requested the ANC’s political management team (PMT) to intervene, and she asked that the meeting adjourn to allow the Chief Whips of the parties to caucus. After about 45 minutes, the Chief Whips returned, and the meeting continued. It only finished at around 19:00.

Some ANC councillors who were not supporting the Speaker said afterwards that they were still dissatisfied with how the Speaker ran the council. "She abuses her power and we won't allow her to overrule us,” said one of the aggrieved ANC members.

The International Revelation Congress (IRC) councillor in the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Dan Singo, said that they were also not happy with the Speaker’s conduct and the manner in which she abused her power during council meetings.

Cllr Glenda Furumele, a representative of the Democratic Alliance, also criticised the behaviour of the Speaker and some of the ANC members during the council meeting. She said that the infighting in the ANC was affecting the rest of the community and was hampering service delivery.

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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