Cllrs Gilbert Netshisaulu, Mihloti Muhlope and Fistos Mafela were elected unopposed as Speaker, mayor and Chief Whip of Musina Local Municipality. A total number of 24 councillors were sworn in by Chief Magistrate Errol Luiters during the inaugural council meeting at the municipality's council chambers last Thurday evening.
The seats in Council were allocated as follows: 12 ward and 6 proportional councilors from the ANC, 3 proportional from the DA and 3 proportional from the EFF.
The executive committee comprises Cllrs Netshisaulu, Muhlope, Mafela, Jeremiah Khunwana, Siyaphi Shirilele and Nkele Milanzi.
In her acceptance speech, Mayor Muhlope said it was both a privilege and an honour for her to accept the trust bestowed upon her by the ANC and the council of the Musina Local Municipality. "I am honored and humbled to represent our municipality as its fifth democratically elected mayor since 1994. Having worked for a lengthy period, bearing various political offices in the ANC, Musina Local Municipality and Vhembe District Municipality, I can assure you that you did not make a mistake by calling upon me to serve, and I am fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead."
She said her election to the office of mayor was a step in the right direction towards the ANC's vision of bringing a better life for all. "I want to put it categorically on record that as mayor of Musina, I will serve all the people of Musina equally, regardless of the individual's political affiliation. This appointment therefore calls upon me, the councilors and the administrative staff to ensure that the hopes of our communities as captured in the integrated development plan and the budget are fulfilled without any compromise."
She said the council would continue to engage the public in decision-making processes. "Together with the citizens of Musina, we will continue to keep our municipality a beautiful, progressive and safe place to live. We need to play a greater and more meaningful role in our efforts to assist our municipality in improving its financial viability and take immediate action to address service delivery challenges as a matter of urgency."