Latest news with #Shayi
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Mopani budgets R2.7bn for service delivery
PHALABORWA – The Mopani District Municipality (MDM) has approved a total budget of R2.728 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. This was revealed by MDM Mayor Pule Shayi during his State of the District Address (Soda), held at the Mopani TVET College in Phalaborwa on Friday, July 4. Shayi stated that R1.868 billion, or 68% of the overall budget, has been allocated to the operational budget. A further R638 million, making up 23.39% of the total, has been set aside for capital projects. Additionally, 2.79% of the budget will go toward servicing historical debt owed to Lepelle Northern Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation. Highlighting the district's priorities, Shayi emphasised that water infrastructure remains central to MDM's development agenda. He reaffirmed the municipality's commitment to ongoing investment in this area and provided an update on the Lulekani Water Scheme Project in Ba-Phalaborwa. Phase 1 of the project, which focuses on communities in Ward 3 (Benfarm) and Ward 15 (Bico), is now 96% complete. It has so far created 60 job opportunities and supported 20 small businesses. Phase 2A, serving Humulani in Ward 13, is 99% complete, having created 29 jobs and benefited 12 small enterprises. Phase 2B, also in Humulani, is 95% complete and includes borehole development, equipment installation, electrification, a package plant, and the construction of an elevated steel tank. Meanwhile, Phase 2C in Kurhula, also in Ward 13, has reached 98% completion. This phase has generated 50 jobs and supported 13 local enterprises. Looking ahead, the municipality plans to continue the Lulekani Water Scheme Project in Benfarm during the next financial year, with a budget of R43.7 million allocated for its implementation. The mayor also gave a brief overview of projects taking place in the district's other four local municipalities: Giyani, Tzaneen, Letaba, and Maruleng. Before beginning his address, Shayi took a moment to acknowledge Phalaborwa United Football Club, which recently won the district play-off. The team will now move on to the provincial play-offs, where they will compete for promotion to the second division. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘I want to be with the people': Limpopo mayor resigns
Many in the ANC suspected that Mangena might have felt frustrated by ANC politics of slates Former Greater Tzaneen local municipality mayor Maripe Mangena has resigned. Mangena, who was a PR councillor representing the municipality at the Mopani district municipality in Limpopo, tendered his resignation this week. The resignation letter was noted by the ANC-led council during a council sitting at the municipal chamber on Thursday. His resignation comes after the current Mopani district municipality mayor, Pule Shayi, snubbed him during his appointment of councillors three and a half years ago. Shayi won the Norman Mashabane ANC regional elective conference a fortnight ago. Mangena did not endorse Shayi at the conference. He instead supported another slate, which was opposed to Shayi's candidature for a third term. Tension Many in the ANC suspected that Mangena might have felt frustrated by ANC politics of slates, which he was allegedly opposed to. 'We are not all President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa forgave former Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha for betraying him at the 55th ANC national elective conference on 19 December 2022. 'When many called for Mathabatha's axing, the president did not act. Instead, he continued to give him [Mathabatha] a second chance to finish his term. 'Matamela [Cyril] went on to appoint Mathabatha as Deputy Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development under his Cabinet in 2024. It must be a lesson to every politician in South Africa that no leader wants to hunt with another man's dogs. 'For sure, Mangena felt he could not continue working with a man he differed with politically for the next three years. The same goes for Shayi, he may not have been comfortable working with a man who continued showing him the middle finger,' said a municipal employee at the Mopani district municipality, who asked to speak on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with the media on the matter. Shayi was not available for comment as he was allegedly in a meeting. ALSO READ: Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference 'I want to be with the people' While Mangena told The Citizen that his resignation had not yet been processed, municipal spokesperson Neville Ndlala said the resignation was noted and accepted by council on Thursday. ANC regional spokesperson Peter Ngobeni, quoted Mangena as saying: 'I want to be with the people in their daily struggles and to freely be part of their efforts for the improvement of their lives' NOW READ: Mopani water crisis sparks control call from Tzaneen mayor
