North West -
North West premier Thandi Modise has called an urgent provincial executive council meeting to discuss several issues including the protest over water shortages near Brits.
“Obstruction and resistance to provincial intervention and hands-on support… had delayed progress that needed to be registered for the benefit of our communities,” Modise said in a statement on Wednesday.
The 9am meeting in Mahikeng was aimed at evaluating the progress so far, and renewing efforts in areas where there had been resistance.
On Tuesday, Madibeng's mayor Poppy Mangongwa and two other officials - chief whip Solly Malete and speaker Buti Makhongela - resigned.
“There was no reason given for their resignation,” said municipality spokeswoman Lebogang Tsogang at the time.
The Star reported on Wednesday that the “resignations” follow an instruction by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe after meeting top officials of the ANC in the Bojanala district in Brits on Sunday.
The new mayor was Matshidiso Mangoathe, the new chief whip was Simon Klass, and the new speaker was Douglas Maimane.
Earlier on Wednesday, residents of Hebron, near Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria, started gathering ahead of a march to the Madibeng local municipality.
They were complaining about service delivery in the township on the border between the North West and Gauteng provinces.
Residents of Jericho and other villages in the area, which were also without water, were due to join Mothutlung residents in the march.
The protest follows those in Mothutlung where four people died last week. Residents were upset about water shortages.
Tsogang said residents had also demanded the dismissal of a Mothutlung ward councillor during the previous protests. - Sapa