Plot to topple S/Phikwe Mayor

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday July 9, 2010 00:00

According to one councillor, the conspiracy is so solid that a new mayor has already been identified.

Mayor Mukokomani, says the councillors are free to 'go ahead' with the plot.

The councillor for Botshabelo Central, Molefe Molathegi (BCP) says it is true that councillors are planning a vote of no confidence against the mayor because in addition to abuse of office, Mukokomani overrules decisions of council committees, making life difficult for the town clerk, Kutlwano Matenge.

'He has turned out as we expected,' Molatlhegi says. 'We made a mistake making him the mayor. 'In this we wronged the electorate and must rectify the mistake.'

But not all councillors in Selebi-Phikwe are behind the conspiracy. The councillor for Kopano, Mogae Ketshogile (BDP), dismissed the plot as 'petty' and one driven by selfish personal interests, hence he will have none of it.

'We should work as a team,' Ketshogile says. 'In a football team, each player is given a position; so it should be with us. There should be a leader among us.'

Mukokomani was chosen to become the mayor because he is capable and has the brains to do the job, he says.

Nominated councillor, Mmidi Phuduhudu, agrees and says the vote of no confidence against Mukokomani is not necessary.

Phuduhudu says councillors must put their personal differences aside and work with the electorate in mind.

'If we are not happy with the way mayor Mukokomani does things, we should talk to him,' she says. 'I am not aware that councillors are unhappy with his leadership. If we go that route, we will keep removing people from that office.'

The Selebi-Phikwe mayoralty has been controversial ever since Mukokomani assumed it. The drama started when he stood against Tebogo Matlhogonolo, contrary to the BDP caucus. He made things worse by nominating an opposition councillor for deputy mayor.

Mukokomani, who is also the councillor for Ikageleng Phase Two, was taken before a BDP disciplinary committee but the councillors withdrew their complaints against him. 

Other councillors were not available for comment as their mobile phones went unanswered.