VDC chairperson, councillor in war of words

Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday September 26, 2017 15:53

Recently the councillor had to address a poorly attended Kgotla meeting reportedly because the VDC chairperson refused to release Ipelegeng workers to attend the meeting.

The VDC committee was dissolved and a new one elected in a bid to address differences that made it impossible for the old one to function.

Kabelo said when he assumed the position in 2013, he discovered that there was a lot of corruption that was taking place.

“I acquainted myself with the VDC guidelines to understand its roles and responsibilities, but the councillor on the other hand believes he should run the VDC his own way.

He has the schedule for our meetings as an ex-officio member ,but he never attends meetings,” he said.

“He organised a Kgotla meeting and expected me to release Ipelegeng workers to attend and even wrote to the coordinating office requesting the release of workers.

These workers are under my jurisdiction, and I am the one who should release them after a careful consideration of the reasons advanced,” he said.

He argued that as VDC chairperson, he is senior to the councillor. “I am at par with Kgosi and Ipelegeng coordinator and the councillor is nowhere in that lineage. These are shenanigans ahead of the VDC committee elections next month because he has a team that he wants in the committee,” he said.  

He denied that the tension between him and councillor was politically motivated as he is said to be eyeing the council seat, but he said his plans were to contest the Parliamentary seat.

“I can only work well with the councillor if he can attend Kgotla meetings and learn the mandate of Ipelegeng,” he said.

Reached for comment, Molatlhegi explained that administratively VDC officers report to council and that is why requests for workers are done at the council.

“The VDC is just there to supervise, but has no powers to refuse to release workers. There is no way a VDC chairperson can be senior to a councillor,” he said. Molatlhegi dismissed the allegations retorting they were motivated by the fact that he did not support Kabelo for the Parliamentary race in the last general elections.

“I have brought all these to the attention of the Town Clerk and Botshabelo Court President. Those who have powers would have to take proper actions to address the situation,” he said.