New MPL vows to tackle municipal failures and enforce consequences

By Molaole Montsho

ActionSA member who was recently elected to the North West provincial legislature has promised to focus on service delivery and consequence management in municipalities, which have long been plagued by stalled projects, financial irregularities, and poor governance.

Speaking to the Weekender team, Masego Kodisang said weak accountability in local government has left communities without basic services.

“The lack of consequences for mismanagement at the municipal level is a major concern. I will prioritise oversight to ensure communities receive the services they are owed,” she said.

She was appointed early this week following Kwena Mangope’s resignation from the legislature after his dismissal from ActionSA.

“I am replacing a giant, Kgosi Kwena Mangope; that alone serves as a motivation for me not to relax but to serve the people of North West with dedication,” Kodisang said.

Kodisang will know in the next sitting of the house which portfolio committee she will serve on, but she said she was excited that ActionSA has deployed her to the North West Provincial Legislature.

She served as a proportional representative (PR) councillor and the chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) in the Moretele local municipality since 2021.

“I am happy and excited that my organisation, ActionSA, saw it fit to send me to the province to ensure that there are changes in the lives of the people of North West.”

The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Desbo Mohono, welcomed Kodisang as the new member of the provincial legislature following her swearing-in.

Mohono said Kodisang would benefit the legislature in its three mandates of oversight, law-making, and public participation.

“We welcome her as our member who will assist with the work of the legislature, including within our committees and the overall performance of the institution in the 7th provincial legislature,” she said.

Kodisang holds a B.A. Honours in Business Management. She was the secretary-general of the Forum 4 Service Delivery before the party merged with ActionSA in December last year.

 ActionSA said Kodisang would play a role in ensuring that the party holds the provincial government accountable and that communities in North West receive the services they deserve. She also serves in the Senate of ActionSA as an additional member.

 Forum 4 Service Delivery merged with ActionSA under the Green Umbrella to increase the voting base of ActionSA.