Newly elected Mogale City mayor promises systems to ensure residents aren't affected by political changes

JOHANNESBURG - The newly elected Mogale City Mayor, Lucky Sele, says the municipality will set up systems to ensure residents are not affected by political changes.

The African National Congress (ANC) councillor was elected to the top position on Friday, becoming the third mayor in Mogale city over the past three years.

Speaking to Eyewitness News on Monday, Sele said it was time for the biggest party in the council, the ANC, to occupy the mayoral seat.  

Sele said he was confident his coalition government would be in place until the 2026 elections when a new one will be voted in.

“What is important and should be prioritised is a minimum common programme for the residents. So irrespective of who takes the (mayoral) seat,  the residents should know their needs are being prioritised and services continue uninterrupted.”

The Mogale City Local Municipality said only half of its 24 sewer pump stations are fully operational.

This has led to sewage flowing into the municipality’s rivers.

The severity of the situation has reached President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently called for an urgent solution.

For many years, the Mogale City Local Municipality has neglected the maintenance and upkeep of its sewer pump stations.

The West Randv District Municipality is now amid a public health crisis with its rivers overflowing with raw sewage and dead fish.

Sele said an intergovernmental task team has been set up to look into the issue.

“At the centre of our priorities is to ensure that we maintain not only our sewer pump stations but even our facilities are at a dire state, because they are left for long without maintenance. So, we will put in resources to maintain our infrastructure as a city and specifically to the sewer pump stations, we have received a lot of support from the Department of Water and Sanitation.”

Last week, the municipality issued an alert to its residents explaining that tap water quality has not been affected since its water purification plants are working optimally.