Mahlake fired as GTM mayor
Mahlake was appointed mayor of Tubatse in 2011. During his tenure the municipality experienced numerous service delivery protests.
BURGERSFORT – The days of Nkosiyabo Josias Mahlake as the mayor of Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) have came to an abrupt end.
This comes after the ANC in Limpopo issued a statement confirming the firing of four mayors in the province. The list of the sacked mayors included Greater Tubatse Municipality’s own Josias Mahlake.
According to Steelburger/Lydenburg News’s reliable sources, the ANC provincial executive committee took a decision on June 23 to recall the mayors. The other three mayors are Mr Lawrence Mapoulo of the Capricorn district, Mr Joshua Matlou of the Mopani district, and Ms Wendy Matemane of Elias Motsoaledi Municipality.
It is rumoured that the quartet were fired because of underperforming, and allegations that they were linked to the official opposition party in the Limpopo province, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The Sowetan newspaper reported on Tuesday, June 24, that the jilted mayors, allegedly have links to Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader Julius Malema.
According to a report in the paper, the mayors were removed because they were apparently aiding the EFF.
The ANC in Limpopo referred to the firing as a “strategic” move to improve service delivery.
Limpopo’s ANC secretary Mr Knocks Seabi denied the rumours that the mayors were linked to EFF.
He told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that the decision to remove the mayors had nothing to do with the four apparently being aligned to Malema and former Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale. “Whether they are friends or not is not an issue to us. For us strengthening performance is the priority,” Seabi said
Seabi told the paper that no interim mayors had been appointed as yet. “We are still consulting with structures. Possibly by the end of the week, we will have some candidates in mind. I can assure you that by Monday, June 30, the interim mayor of Tubatse will be announced,” he told this reporter.
Seabi added the party made the decision after determining the weaknesses and challenges in the various municipalities. “We want to strengthen our performance in municipalities for better service delivery.”
Mahlake was appointed mayor of Tubatse in 2011. During his tenure the municipality experienced numerous service delivery protests. At the time of going to print the paper had not received any comment from the GTM spokesman Mr Thabiso Mokoena. His phone rang unanswered. Meanwhile the ANC Youth League (Ancyl) in Tubatse, welcomed the removal of Mahlake, stating it was in the best interest of the youth. In April 2013, the league marched to the municipality chambers demanding that Mahlake be fired.
