Hlaudi toasts success in troubled council

African Content Movement (ACM) leader Hlaudi Motsoeneng says his track record at the SABC will help him talk to investors to come to Maluti-a-Phofung municipality in eastern Free State where he won two seats in the council.

“If I put R1bn in the SABC, what will stop me from putting R1bn or R2bn in Maluti-a-Phofung and talk to investors. I have a track record on that one,” said Motsoeneng on Thursday.

The former all-powerful chief operating officer at SABC, Motsoeneng said he plans to create jobs for the largely rural community covered by the municipality whose seat is Phuthaditjhaba.

The party, which was contesting for the first time in the municipal polls, got 2,02% of the votes in the municipality in which the  ANC received  39,2% of votes, followed by MAP16 with 28,55% and the EFF at 9,84%.

ACM contested only four municipalities in the local government elections this week, in Maluti-a-Phofung, Masilonyana, Matjhabeng and Ngwathe local municipalities. The party did not win seats in the other municipalities it contested.

“I am excited. I am very happy about Maluti-a-Phofung because that is where I was born. I knew the community there would vote for me. The people in the wards where I grew up voted for me. I am glad the people believe that ACM can contribute to better service delivery in the municipality.”

Motsoeneng  said he mainly focused on campaigning in Maluti-a-Phogung because of the limited financial resources his party had. “Despite this, we did very well,” he said.

Harking back to his highly controversial years as the SABC strongman, Motsoeneng added: “My track record as employee of the SABC in the past contributed to the belief in the community where I come from to vote for me. They know my track record." 

He said his message about job-creation during his campaign trail in the area won the people over. “I was honest to them that they cannot rely on social grants for survival. They need employment as well. I stress the point more of trying to get investors into Maluti-a-Phofung so that we can create employment rather than people depending on grants. We need people who will think about invention.”

Motsoeneng said his party will use the two seats it won to fight for the provision of water, electricity and  proper roads.

“The roads here need to be fixed. You cannot drive in certain areas. And I am already talking to investors to invest in Maluti so that jobs are created. But they cannot invest if there is no water and electricity. We need reliable supply of these two to do business."

Motsoeneng said he plans to establish more branches of the ACM in other provinces. “I want to focus on Maluti-a-Phofung and build a strong foundation here before going to other places in the country.”