Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has officially fired Elias Ntlebi as Speaker and councilor of the Nala Local Municipality with immediate effect. In a statement signed by the party's provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng says Ntlebi has ceased to be a member of the ANC and a vacancy has been declared. It's alleged that the speaker has been working with the opposition parties to divide the ANC councillors within the Nala municipality. The municipality has since faced numerous instances of unrest and a shutdown that affected teaching and learning and local businesses in the area. Ntlebi was placed under precautionary suspension pending the disciplinary hearing which found him guilty of abusing his oath of office for personal gain. On the 10th of June, the Free State Provincial Executive Committee visited the municipality to meet with party branches and communicate its decision to redeploy the speaker. This follows numerous engagements with the community.
In May Workers from Nala municipalities downed tools calling for the removal of the current administrator. The municipality has been placed under administration for failing to meet its financial obligations. In a letter from the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance, MEC Saki Mokoena, the administration intervention seeks to investigate fraud and corruption charges levelled against some municipal officials. Amongst others, the letter also highlighted prolonged suspensions of employees without following due processes, leading to unfair labour practices. Alleged irregular payments made to service providers and third parties, including Vaal Central Water. The political instability has led the municipality to the brink of collapse. Nala’s provincial intervention comes at a time when the auditor general's report has red-flagged some municipalities for mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability. Nala is also amongst the municipalities that owe the power utility, Eskom millions of rand.
The ANC has now declared a vacancy in the post until another councillor is elected. The municipality is still facing serious challenges on issues of service delivery such as consistent water supply and provision of electricity.
