Mpumalanga Mirror April 2021 Edition

2 News
Mpumalanga Mirror / April 29, 2021
Meet IEC Mpumalanga’s new head
MBOMBELA - The Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) has
appointed its new Provincial Electoral
Officer, Ms Gugu Langa.
Gugu Langahas worked within the local
government space for 26 years, 19 of
which have been in managerial positions.
She joins the IEC from the South
African Local Government Association
(SALGA) where she has worked for
Gugu Langa.
EDITOR:
Bongani Hlatshwayo
Cell: 0700691092
Email: bongani@mpmirroronline.co.za
brizotime@gmail.com
NEWS EDITOR:
Yoliswa Hlatshwayo
Cell: 0820907341
Email: yoliswa@mpmirroronline.co.za
yoliswahlatshwayo@gmail.com
SPORTS EDITOR & DIGITAL
MANAGER:
Jabulane Khumalo
Email: jabulane@mpmirroronline.co.za
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
Sunrise Heights 27
15 Koraalboom Avenue
West Acres, Mbombela 1200
the past 16 years where she was the
Provincial Executive Officer, currently
referred to as Provincial Director
of Operations (Accounting Officer)
for Mpumalanga, responsible for 20
municipalities and working closely
amongst others, with Provincial
Government and the Mpumalanga House
of Traditional Leaders.
She previously worked at the
Emakhazeni Local Municipality, Mandeni
Local Municipality and the Lowveld
Escarpment Regional Services Council
(currently known as Ehlanzeni District
Council).
GuguLangahas a BA Honours Degree
(Clinical Psychology) from the University
of Zululand and a Masters’ Degree in
Public Administration from the University
of Pretoria, along with various certificates
in work-related fields.
She is a staunch member of the
Anglican Church of South Africa, and
the President of the Mothers Union in the
Diocese of Mpumalanga.
Ms Langa leads the Electoral
Commission of SA in Mpumalanga
Province at a crucial time when this
Elections Management Body (EMB) is
preparing for the upcoming 2021 Local
Government Elections (LGE2021)
For those deeply spiritual, there is an
interesting matter of coincidence that
looks like celestial powers are at play:
She comes in from the local sphere of
Government where preparations for
elections are also in high gear.
EMBALENHLE- Goven Mbeki
Local Muncipalityexecutive mayor, Cllr
Nhlakanipho Zuma has appealed to his
community, in particular young people
about the state of the municipality and that
it called for the youth to be proactive.
This was during the question and
answer session at the Sasol Club with the
Minister of Tourism,Mmamoloko Kubayi-
Ngubane’srecent constituency visit, who
was with the ANC’s Chief Whip in the
legislature, Fidel Mlombo.
He also shared that he has adopted
various groups who will undergo training
in partnership with the Department of
Tourism.
One group has registered a co-operative
and will be responsible for cleaning and
managing waste. Zuma pledged that he
will donate R10 000 for three months as
a start-up capital to have the co-operative
running.
ELUKWATINI- A 52-year-old man was
arrested after he assaulted a minor together
with its mother.
The incident took place on April 6 when
the minor was beaten up by the man at his
shop.
In a video that circulated on social
media, the victim is seen lying facing
down on top of a pool table, held by other
youngsters on the legs and begging for
forgiveness. The accused is holding a cue
stick and can be heard shouting at the
other ones holding him, to not let him go.
His mother, *ThembiDlamini (not her
real name to protect the minor) was also
assaulted by the same man. She alleged
that group of boys came to their home on
the morning of the incident and asked for
her son. After she went to get dressed, they
had already left. She then went to the store
where she allegedly found him crying
hysterically. When she asked why he was
beating him, the man allegedly turned on
her.
EMAKHAZENI SETTLES
OVER R30M ESKOM DEBT
“You would all know that the
municipality has collapsed. I think I’m
talking to adults who understand what a
budget is. To run the municipal office, we
need R149 million monthly.
“We only collect R90 million, which
tells you that there’s a shortfall of R60
million. The question is, when you ask
the municipality to close potholes, where
“Was I wrong to ask why he had boys
holding my son while hitting him? He had
no right to do that and it broke my heart
that he also hit me until that stick broke.
I’m embarrassed, to say the least, because
YOLISWA HLATSHWAYO
MACHADODORP- Emakhazeni Local
Municipality can now breathe a sigh of
relief after settling Eskom’selectricity debt
of over R30 million.
This was revealed by the Executive
Mayor, Thomas Ngwenya last week during
a sight inspection of the N4 Upgrade project
by the Minister of Transport, FikileMbalula.
Ngwenya requested that the minister
convey a message to President Cyril
Ramaphosa that his municipality wishes to
teach other municipalities a thing or two on
how to go about settling their bills.
“I’m proud to say we no longer owe
Eskom and we are now debt free. The
municipality would like to thank all the
stakeholders for their continuous support
which resulted in Eskom’s debt settlement,
especially for the community for their
commitment in paying services. The culture
of payment must continue to avoid going
back to 10 years ago. Owing Eskom has a
negative impact on service delivery,” stated
Ngwenya.
The municipality owed R36 954 143 in
2016 and started paying penalties from
August 3,2016 to March 31this year which
stood at R288 202 874. This was inclusive
of R234 473 073,75 plus an interest of
R16 775 657,65 which has been fully
settled.
Mayor on a path to restore hope in young people of Goven Mbeki
JABULANE KHUMALO
Executive Mayor, Thomas Ngwenya.
Govan Mbeki Local Municipality Executive
Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma.
do we get the money? Residents are
complaining about load-shedding and
Eskom gives us electricity despite the
huge debt. We owe them R2.3 billion as a
municipality.
“Residents owe the municipality R2.2
billion. Now, the question remains:
who is the municipality? When I was
child, I thought it was this big scary
person. However, you all know who the
municipality is.
“The municipality is us the residents of
Goven Mbeki. We the community who
elect people who are going to represent the
community. These are councillors and then
we employ people who will work for the
community, which is the administration.
When we’re talking about the municipality
those are the three components that form a
municipality,” he explained.
He added that the municipality
needed to start building capacity and not
depend on companies that are within the
municipality.
“Politically connected” man assaults mother and son
YOLISWA HLATSHWAYO
The two victims of assault.
he did it in front of people, including my
son,” she explained.
According to police reports, the boy is
suspected of stealing coins from arcade
game machines at the accuser’s store in
November last year.
The mother admitted she was aware
of such an incident as the accused had
approached her weeks before the assault.
Speaking to some residents, they
revealed that the accused is a “feared man”
who often brags about being untouchable
because of his family’s political affiliation.
“The man told me and I confronted my
son about the matter this year which he
did not deny. However, I do not think he
was supposed to handle the matter this
way because now he doesn’t want to go to
school and the marks on his buttocks are
bad. I don’t have a problem with children
being disciplined, but this is not the way to
do it,” she said.
A case of assault with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm was opened. He will
appear in the Eersterhoek Magistrate’s
Court on May 16.