Pankop to Lefiso communities no longer wish to be part of Mpumalanga

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“We have been ignored for way too long and we are tired of the tribalism in our municipality. We no longer want to be associated with Dr JS MOROKA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY and Mpumalanga Province.”

These are the words shared by Mr Thabo Nyatlo who is the Chairperson of Moretele Mathanjane Demarcation Forum. The Forum says they represent former Bophuthatswana homelands in the outskirts of Mpumalanga starting from Pankop to Lefiso.

In our telephonic conversation with Mr Nyatlo, he said they are of the view that one of the reasons why they are receiving bad representation and poor service delivery in the above mentioned areas is because of tribalism that is practiced in the municipality.

This is something that the communities around that have been raising on several occasions including in the IDP meetings but the issue did not receive much major feedback from the relevant authorities.

“We don’t know why we were put under Mpumalanga Province in the first place because we believe we are much more closer to Limpopo than Mpumalanga. We therefore want to request that we be moved from Mpumalanga to Limpopo.”

“We have also been in constant consultations with our communities to support us in suggesting that we have a Category B municipality. For the past 30 years, we have been receiving poor service delivery and 75% of the municipal budget is always spent in Mdutjana, even if you are to look at the employment opportunities in the municipality, it always aligns with tribes or people who speak the same language.”

He also mentioned that most, if not all tenders that come from either provincial or the municipality are always given to people they don’t know whereas they have local entrepreneurs who can provide the same services but they are not given the opportunity.

In a written response to the forum by Limpopo Cogta, the Department acknowledged their request and urged them to take the matter with the higher powers and relevant people.

“In light with the fact that neither the MEC nor Municipal Demarcation Board have authority to redetermine provincial boundaries, you are requested to address this with Minister responsible for local government, Honorable Velinkosi Hlabisa or the Speaker of the Parliament.”

Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing this article. We will add their response as soon as we receive it. Developing story.