By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described North West municipalities as the worst run in the country, saying municipalities have failed to deliver services to their communities.
Ramaphosa was in the North West on Saturday as part of the ANC’s Letsema campaign event.
The president’s visit to the area serves him on two fronts; for his re-election campaign as ANC leader, but another is to help the ANC win votes in a municipality it had failed to govern.
Ramaphosa addressed a mini-rally in Lichtenburg, Northwest where there is going to be a by-election to appoint a new council.
The ANC-led Ditsobotla local municipality was dissolved by parliament following maladministration and political infighting.
Ramaphosa used the rally to unveil new ANC candidates – who he said will fix the many issues of service delivery in the community.
“When I was travelling here inside a car – I saw a lot of potholes and I was told that president they are only fixing them because you are coming,” he said.
He said the ANC had resolved its internal issues. Ramaphosa said those at the helm in the area had been removed.
Ramaphosa added, “Your municipality is rotten. It is rotten. That is why we, as the national government, decided to dissolve this municipality so we can choose new councillors. Those who were there did not show they cared about this municipality. They wasted our time and wasted money and stole it.”
The community said it still has faith in the ANC despite its council being dissolved and service delivery at an all-time low.
By-elections for a new council have been set down for December 14.
While Ramaphosa touted for votes, the EFF held its makeshift rally where residents were reminded of the president’s tainted involvement in the 2012 Marikana massacre.
The party played a song strongly worded against Ramaphosa a few kilometres from where he had gathered.