The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka has congratulated the newly elected office bearers which include Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Speakers and Exco members in the province’s local and district municipalities.
MEC Hlomuka has called upon the office bearers to work together to ensure that the province’s municipalities continue to deliver services to communities.
MEC Hlomuka has pleaded for sanity to prevail in the management of the transition where there has been a change in the office-bearers.
“We urge all councils to adhere to all labour laws when dealing with staffing matters. Staff members should not be treated unfairly based on perceived political affiliations due to them having worked with the previous administration” said Hlomuka.
The election of office bearers and the swearing-in of the newly elected councillors across the province has been a largely peaceful exercise. All the province’s 43 local municipalities and one metro have convened their first sitting successfully. The province’s 10 Districts have until the 8th of December to convene their first sitting where they will elect office-bearers.
According to MEC Hlomuka, the department will roll out specialised training programmes that will assist the office bearers in their new responsibilities.
MEC Hlomuka will visit all Districts where he will have engagements with all office bearers at both the local and district level on what is expected of them in their new roles and on the types of support that will be made available.
Issued by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
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