MODIMOLLE, June 26 (ANA) – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned municipal councillors who neglect voters’ interests and drive selfish agendas that will they will be dismissed.
Addressing African National Congress supporters in Modimolle in Limpopo on Sunday, Ramaphosa said councillors standing for election in the August 3 municipal polls should know the voters were their "employers".
The ANC wanted committed servants of the people as councillors, and those disregarding the will and needs of the people had to know they "will not last".
“Comrades who are candidates for councillors must know that they are signing a contract with you [communities] and [the] ANC, and must know that they are going to work. If we hear that you [have] looted taxpayers’ money you must know that you are gone,” Ramaphosa said.
The elections would be tough because opposition parties planned to take over metropolitan councils.
“Comrades, the August 3 election will be a very difficult election, because there are parties that want to topple the ANC, they want to cut down [the] ANC into pieces,” he said.
Without mentioning specific parties, Ramaphosa named city councils and metros believed to be targeted by opposition parties. These included Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Polokwane.
However, the ANC would not be defeated and would win all councils. Appealing to voters to support the ANC, Ramaphosa said some opposition parties "copy and paste" the ANC manifesto and use it to lure voters.
Modimolle residents complained to Ramaphosa about poor roads and lack of water. They also wanted an illegal dumping site near RDP houses to be removed because it was a health hazard. Ramaphosa assured residents that every problem raised would be solved.
– African News Agency (ANA)
