ANC accused of recycling poor-quality leaders in Emfuleni mayoral race

The African National Congress’ (ANC) Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT) has announced, this evening, that Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Finance MMC, Councillor Hassan Mako, is its Executive Mayoral candidate for the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Picture: Supplied The DA in Gauteng says it is shocking that the ANC has announced Hassan Mako as its mayoral candidate for the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Mako served as the MMC for Finance under the disgraced former mayor, Sipho Radebe, who was recently removed for service-delivery failures.

Radebe’s resignation, at the request of the ANC, came shortly after the DA scooped a ward in Evaton in a by-election. That victory was said to have left the ANC in a panic. The DA’s mayoral candidate for Emfuleni, Kingsol Chabalala, toldThe Citizenon Thursday that Mako was part of the leadership that ran Emfuleni to the ground.

“As MMC for Finance, Hassan Mako has failed to restore financial stability in Emfuleni. Under his watch, the municipality’s debt to Eskom and Rand Water has remained a serious concern, with little progress made in reducing these liabilities. “This has resulted in repeated legal actions by both utilities, including the attachment of municipal bank accounts to recover outstanding debts.

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“These developments raise serious questions about his ability to lead the municipality effectively as mayor,” said Chabalala. But in a statement on Wednesday, the ANC’s Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT) spokesperson, Mzi Khumalo, said the party is confident that Mako is the right man for the task ahead. It involved rigorous interviews after receiving three nominations from the ANC Sedibeng Regional Executive Committee.

“Comrade Mako brings with him extensive experience as both a community development worker and ward councillor for Ward 37. He was later appointed as MMC for Finance in Emfuleni. “Comrade Mako rose through the ranks of the ANC Youth League, serving as branch secretary, branch chairperson, and ANCYL zonal chairperson,” said Khumalo.

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