Internal party conflict results in suspended service deliveries for ANC towns
Local government in the North West province is in the midst of a dispute – and the town is suffering because of it. The Ditsobotla municipality (which has two mayors) has seen service deliveries grind to a halt. The Daily Friend reports that in a Lichtenburg township, refuse has remained uncollected for months. At the heart of the conflict are two ANC factions, both battling for control of the local municipality. ‘Factional’ politics, as the Daily Friend describes it, has spilled over into neighbouring towns. Tswaing had its mayor, Dimakatso Malwane voted out of office in June last year. After winning reinstatement, Malwane was voted out yet again and replaced by Olaotswe Makalela. Uncertainty as to which mayor has access to the town bank account has prompted First National Bank to suspend Tswaing’s bank account. Warring factions and local politicians embroiled in rivalry’s and battles has seen the town and as a consequence, its people, come off second best. Service delivery interruption isn’t anything new to the province, or indeed South Africa. For years, residents have complained about schooling being interrupted and a complete lack of basic municipality services – Jarryd Neves