Moshodi back at municipality after long illness

Employees at the Fezile Dabi District Municipality have welcomed the return to work of their executive mayor, Max Moshodi, who has been ill since December last year.

Staff members, who spoke to The Weekly on condition of anonymity said Moshodi’s absence was affecting moral.

“When we heard that we might lose him to the legislature many of us were devastated because he is a good person who is polite and friendly with everyone. After that we were told he was sick and we were also devastated because he is such a good person who loves everyone,” said one worker.

Another one said: “Mayor Moshodi’s recovery means he is ready to lead the municipality to prosperity.”

Moshodi was last seen during the funeral of the former Free State MEC for health, Fezi Ngubentombi, in Sasolburg.

The ANC has welcomed Moshodi’s return to work. Fezile Dabi ANC regional chairperson, Sizwe Mbalo, said Moshodi’s return means he will effectively resume with his mayoral duties and ensure that that there is effective service delivery in the municipality.

“We are happy to announce that comrade Moshodi is back from his sick leave and we hope that he is fully recovered to resume with his duties.”

Mbalo dismissed as untrue reports that Moshodi was going to be given the boot by the ANC.

“As far as we know he is still our mayor until his job expires after elections. We are confident that he’s presence will steer things to the mission of our municipality. The ANC has never told us about any possible dismissal of comrade Moshodi,” said Mbalo.

Following the sacking of the speaker of the Free State legislature, Kgotso Sesele; Moshodi was mentioned as his possible successor. This would have made the position of mayor in the district municipality vacant and Mbalo was earmarked for the position.

Moshodi, a prominent politician from a small town of Edenville, has is a staunch supporter of premier Ace Magashule.

“We do not have a possible leader in the Free State other than Ace Magashule. He is one of the leaders who are committed to service delivery. Comrade Ace is different from others who had been in the same position as his. We will not allow opportunists to hijack the leadership of the province,” Moshodi once said in an interview with The Weekly.

Despite his illness, Moshodi is still expected to be elected in the provincial executive committee of the ANC at the upcoming provincial conference.

He has publicly lashed out at those who have argued that the ANC in the province is dominated by leaders from Parys, where Magashule comes from.

“I have been disagreeing with many comrades who would argue or cause debate about places or towns which some of our leaders comes from.

I had cadres who used to say Parys dominates ANC leadership but I have said to them ‘The competence of the leader comes first and a town where he comes from should never be a consideration,’ this was when some comrades questioned why we have many leaders from Parys.”