MMC Mafefe sworn in as SALGA’s Women Commissioner in Limpopo

LIMPOPO – Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Corporate Services, Orginia Mafefe, was officially sworn in as Women Commissioner of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Limpopo during the association’s Provincial Members Assembly in Tzaneen on 5 November.

Chief Magistrate James Norval officiated the ceremony on behalf of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Mafefe took an oath for a role in which she will be championing women’s interests and advance their aspirations across the province.

Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality Council Speaker, Rebecca Lentsoane, was also sworn in as a Provincial Executive Committee member.

The assembly included councillors from all the 27 municipalities in Limpopo, together with representatives from the business sector, government and traditional leadership.

The gathering was held under the theme: ‘Building Sustainable Municipalities.” Mafefe’s appointment aligns with SALGA’s mission to promote women’s participation and leadership in all spheres of government.

She is expected to assume her new responsibility until the end of the current political term. Delivering her speech during the assembly, Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba highlighted that the two-day gathering plays a vital role in charting the course of Limpopo’s 27 municipalities.

Premier Dr. Ramathuba remarked that the assembly allows for the adoption of provincial programmes of action, review business plans and budgets as well as the evaluation of reports from the provincial working groups and oversight bodies.

“Your contributions here reflect the voices of the communities you serve and shape the collective agenda for local government development across the province. The question I would like to pose today is how many of us gathered here can rightfully claim that they are voices of the people? How regular are our engagements with our communities? How regular are those ward meetings? What is the frequency of our feedback sessions?” stated Ramathuba.

She added, “We must re-establish that link with our communities, that we should be the first people they run to when they experience challenges.”