ANC welcomes Malamulele intervention

Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan at a media briefing. Picture: Etienne Creux

Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan at a media briefing. Picture: Etienne Creux

Published Feb 4, 2015

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Polokwane - An intervention by Co-operative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan to help resolve problems in Malamulele, Limpopo, was welcomed by the ANC on Wednesday.

Spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a statement that it supported Gordhan's proposal, following the Municipal Demarcation Board's rejection of a prior proposal for a separate municipality in the area.

Schools and shops remained closed in Malamulele on Wednesday following months of protests there.

Residents have been demanding a separate municipality after complaints about poor service delivery by the Thulamela municipality.

MDB chairwoman Jane Thupana said last week, following the Board's rejection of the proposed boundaries for a new municipality, that fresh proposals for the area could be entertained.

The cycle for consideration of proposals normally opened after local government elections. Gordhan could however ask the MDB to consider proposals at other times.

Gordhan's office said in a statement on the department's website that he had requested the MDB to consider alternative outer boundaries of unviable municipalities, including for the Malamulele area.

The ministry said that a team would also be established to ensure services reached all communities in Malamulele.

Kodwa said: “The ANC calls upon all its members, the alliance partners and the community of Malumelele to give the engagement process a chance”.

Sapa

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