DISGRUNTLED residents of Moutse in Limpopo have marched to the Elias Motsoaledi local municipality in protest against cross-border municipalities.

DISGRUNTLED residents of Moutse in Limpopo have marched to the Elias Motsoaledi local municipality in protest against cross-border municipalities.

"We will organise marches and disrupt the Confederation Cup if nothing is done," Moutse Demarcation Forum organiser Seun Mogotji said yesterday.

Their demands include the immediate suspension of the municipal manager, mayor and local councillors they accused of mismanaging municipal funds.

"While we are waiting for a decision on the demarcation issue, the municipality is chowing [wasting] our money. A lot of money has disappeared.

"We call for the immediate recalling of all councillors (Caroline Mathebe, Granny Mathebe, Suzan Mamaila, Thembi Mabuza and Mr Mokgabudi) who have vested interest in the public funds for selfish agendas," Mogotji said.

"Most of these councillors are themselves service providers in local projects in our municipality ... with extremely poor quality of work," he said.

Mogotji, who is also South African Communist Party district secretary, said the council had failed to account for over R500 000 that had gone missing.

"We want an enquiry into the findings of the Auditor-General whose report on financial statements and performance information shows clear financial unaccountability."

In a memorandum addressed to Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka, residents also called for an investigation into the awarding of tenders to "close associates of the mayor and municipal manager", as well as tenders awarded to senior municipal employees.

"We call for investigations into any other suspicious conduct of public administrators who misuse public funds and fail to deliver to the deserving communities," Mogotji said.

If their demands were not addressed by June 11, residents plans to picket outside Shiceka's office in Pretoria on June 16. - Sapa