Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance has stood its ground on its decision to set a motion of no confidence against the current mayor of the Metsimaholo Local Municipality Sello Hlasa.
Free State DA leader Patricia Kopane on Monday night said when the opposition party entered into a coalition agreement with the Metsimaholo Civic Association (MCA), to which Hlasa belongs to, there were clear terms and conditions in place.
"When we took over after the last local government elections, we had strategic plans that would outline what the municipality's new administration needed to do in terms of service delivery within its 100 days in office. The mayor failed to comply with this strategic plan. The mayor also failed to publicise the 100 days report," Kopane said.
She added the agreement also stipulated that there would be no inaugural party and that the money would go towards essential service delivery items.
"Instead of adhering to this the mayor took R30 000 and threw a party. He also used council resources to publicise the work done by the MCA at Karabo FM," she said.
The Sasolburg municipality is being torn into shreds as the coalition agreement between the DA and MCA has crumbled.
Furthermore, the race to win power has intensified with the EFF now campaigning hard in one of the major wards, Ward 12, in hope to clinch more seats in council.
It is hoped that Wednesday's by-elections will outline who the clear winner is.
The election come after an ANC councillor resigned, leaving the ANC with 18 seats, the DA with 12, the EFF with eight, the MCA with two and the Freedom Front Plus with only one seat.
Highlighting the controversy around the municipality Hlasa said the DA was after him and that the allegations levelled against him baseless.
"Since I came into office I have followed due processes. Everything I've done I've consulted with the DA to consolidate a programme. The EFF and DA have developed their own interests and an insatiable taste for power," he said.
He also said he had been placed under immense pressure, his reputation has been tainted and that last year information emerged on a plot to kill him.
But Kopane labelled him a 'liar' saying the truth would eventually come out on which member of the DA Hlasa's MCA was actually trying to kill.
Kopane meanwhile, explained that the decision to withdraw the motion of no confidence at the eleventh hour was due to the fact that the mayor was not given enough time to respond.
"We said it would be unfair and unbiased for us to push for a motion of no confidence when the mayor does not have sufficient time. But we will go ahead with tabling the vote once he has had enough time to reply," she said.