The Makhado Municipality was quick to respond and apologise for the racially tainted remarks made by its director of technical services, Mr Thivho Ralulimi, during an urgent meeting held with the Zoutpansberger last Thursday.

Last week, the Zoutpansberger reported how Ralulimi accused the newspaper of being a mouthpiece of the Soutpansberg Ratepayer’s Association and its reporter of being biased. Ralulimi also said that white residents of Louis Trichardt lied about sewerage and water problems because they wanted the municipality to look bad.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by the municipal manager, Mr Shadrack Tshikalange, the director of community services, Mr Elias Mugari, and the municipal spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi. Ralulimi was not present during the meeting.

Thsikalange offered an apology on behalf of Ralulimi and also offered to deal with the matter internally.

“Let me also apologize very seriously, particularly also on the incident that has happened, and say that we will definitely work on that,” Tshikalange said.

Tshikalange explained that Ralulimi should have known better than to become personal during a media interview. He also stressed the fact that the views expressed by Ralulimi were not the views of the municipality.

Ralulimi´s denial that he had made any comments on the newspaper´s being a mouthpiece or having uttered racist remarks was also condemned by Tshikalange.

“You cannot always say it’s my word against you or whatever, but from an administration point, this is not the spirit of the municipality. This is not what we say as a municipality. If we got challenges we must raise them, but you don’t become personal about such issues.”