Phikwe council drama continues

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Friday November 26, 2010 00:00

They resolved this through a vote.

The Mayor, Lekang Mukokomani, is in South Africa on official business and his deputy Batlhaedi Mponwane is holding the fort. When the session resumed on Thursday to discuss the speech councillor Molefhe Molatlhegi proposed that the speech be deferred just like the minutes that they had been ordered not to discuss by the absent mayor. He was then seconded. However Councillor Koos Mashaba opposed the move arguing that he does not understand how the house could allow the speech to be read only to defer it for the next day. He was of the feeling that the speech be discussed and adopted and this was seconded by councilor Leungo Mataio.

Another councillor moved that the house be adjourned so that they could caucus as councillors to decide what to do next. Some councillors remained in the house and did not take part in the caucus. Prior to the adjournment votes stood at three votes for those who wanted the speech to be deferred against two who said it had to be discussed while seven councillors abstained from the vote.

When business resumed councillor Mashaba announced that they had agreed as councilors for the speech to be deferred until the mayor's return. At this point the deputy mayor said he had deferred the speech using his powers as the chairman of the meetings. He went on to tell one councillor who requested to comment that he had wrapped up the issue. 'You cannot dictate what should be done. You are not even the one who tabled the motion,' he said. The session then moved to the next item.

Meanwhile arrangements are in place to relocate the out-patient services from the government hospital to the local clinics as a way of decongesting the hospital and improving service delivery, council official Joel Masilo has said. When briefing the council on urban development he said the arrangement is anticipated to be complete by January 2011. The main hospital will only concentrate on accident, emergencies and in-patients. Patients on the ARV follow-up care, staying in Botshabelo, have been offloaded to Botshabelo ARV clinic. 'It is hoped that lessons being learnt will inform future intentions with other ARV clinics in the district.'

Other services to be relocated to the clinics will include general out-patient care, maternal and child health.