Mpumalanga municipalities given 14-day deadline to form councils
At least 14 of the province's 17 municipalities are currently hung.
The Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements Department has issued a 14-day deadline for municipalities to form councils. MEC Speed Mashilo revealed that his department has already provided guidelines for the first council meetings. At least 14 out of the 17 municipalities in the province are in a lull. Mashilo emphasized that by Wednesday, the Electoral Commission must deliver the list of elected councillors, including their addresses, to the municipal offices.
Following this, a municipal manager must then invite all the elected councillors to convene within the 14-day timeframe beginning from today. Mashilo also mentioned that if the elected parties cannot reach an agreement, a panel will be formed to resolve the issue. In case of a stalemate even after mediation, the law might require dissolving the municipality and conducting a re-election to ensure the majority can elect councillors.
Mashilo expressed confidence in the political parties' maturity to deliver services to the communities without having to resort to dissolving the municipalities.
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