The DA explained its abstention in Tuesday’s removal of MHRF councillor Thato Mathunyane and election of the EFF’s Zandile Ngubeni as speaker, saying it wanted no part in promoting instability and poor governance.

DA caucus whip Palesa Mobango said, “The ANC–EFF coalition has further crippled the council by electing an EFF speaker, entrenching instability and poor governance. This situation is now beyond DA intervention under the current balance of power.”

Mobango said the coalition also used its slim council majority to shelve the forensic report into allegations of corruption with the construction of the Mhluzi intake substation.

“The DA was forced to approach court after the ANC–EFF coalition swept serious allegations of corruption under the carpet,” Mobango said.

Mobango labels the DA’s abstention in voting to remove Mathunyane ‘principled’, explaining that the DA refused to participate in a fruitless political exercise that does not offer real solutions or meaningful change for the residents of Steve Tshwete.

“The DA will continue to act responsibly by prioritising residents over politics,” Mobango concluded.

The FF+ is not happy with the outcome but says it was a lost battle even if the DA or FF+ had nominated their own candidates, which both parties were instructed not to do.

The political offices of mayor and speaker are fickle and fluid, with the EFF’s Zandile Ngubeni being the third speaker to be elected this term.

FF+ caucus leader Johnathan Haarhoff questioned the timing of the move ahead of the coming elections, which may take place between November 2026 and January 2027.

“The FF+ did not support the motion, nor does it support the new speaker,” Haarhoff said.

He described Tuesday’s election of EFF councillor Zandile Joseph Ngubeni as ‘a new low point’, characterising the move as a ‘power grab’ by the ANC and EFF.

The DA’s full statement (verbatim):

The ANC–EFF coalition has further crippled council by electing an EFF Speaker, entrenching instability and poor governance. This situation is now beyond DA intervention under the current balance of power. This was also evident during the forensic investigation into the Mhluzi Intake Substation, where the DA was forced to approach court after the ANC–EFF council swept serious allegations of corruption under the carpet. If residents want real, lasting change, voters must give the Democratic Alliance a clear majority mandate to govern.

The DA has taken a principled decision to abstain from the motion of no confidence brought by the EFF against Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front (MHRF) councillor, Thato Mathunyane.

The DA refuses to participate in a fruitless political exercise that does not offer real solutions or meaningful change for the residents of Steve Tshwete. This motion, in our view, is driven by political point-scoring rather than the genuine interests of the community.

Our focus remains firmly on service delivery, accountability, and improving the daily lives of residents. Empty motions and political theatrics do nothing to fix broken infrastructure such as non-functioning streetlights and potholes, nor will they restore trust in local government.

Instead of being distracted by actions that will not advance the needs of our communities, the DA is committed to offering a clear, credible alternative. We are confident that residents are ready for change, and we are looking forward to taking over this municipality in the elections later this year to deliver clean, effective governance.

The DA will continue to act responsibly, prioritising residents over politics, and working towards a better future for all who live in Steve Tshwete.

FF+ full statement (verbatim as issued in Afrikaans): 

Die Vryheidsfront Plus (VF Plus) neem kennis van die uitkoms van die spesiale raadsvergadering wat vanoggend om 09:00 op 10 Februarie 2026 in die Sydney Choma-banketsaal in die Steve Tshwete Munisipaliteit gehou is, waartydens ’n mosie van wantroue teen die Speaker van die Raad, Rdl Selape Thato Mathunyane van die MHRF, aanvaar is.

Die mosie, voorgelê deur Rdl Elvis Mahlangu van die EFF, is aanvaar met 29 stemme ten gunste daarvan, bestaande uit al die ANC- en EFF-raadslede. Geen stemme is teen die mosie uitgebring nie, terwyl 24 raadslede hulle van stemming weerhou het.

Na afloop van die mosie is Rdl Joseph Zandile Ngubeni van die EFF as die nuwe Speaker van die Raad verkies. Hy was die enigste genomineerde en is genomineer deur Rdl J. Mthombeni (EFF) en gesekondeer deur Rdl P. Malinga (EFF). Rdl Ngubeni het die nominasie aanvaar en is met applous deur die ANC- en EFF-raadslede begroet.

Die VF Plus spreek sy kommer uit oor die tydsberekening van hierdie besluit, veral aangesien dit kort voor die plaaslike regeringsverkiesing is wat later vanjaar plaasvind. Verder dui die wyse waarop die vorige Speaker verwyder is op ’n gebrek aan respek vir behoorlike proses en ondermyn dit institusionele integriteit. Voortgesette probleme rakende dissipline binne beide die ANC en die EFF was weereens duidelik tydens hierdie verrigtinge.

Rdl Ngubeni het voorheen as Hoofsweep van die EFF gedien, is later as Lid van die Burgemeesterskomitee (LBK) vir Gemeenskapsveiligheid aangestel deur die ANC-geleide Burgemeesterskomitee, en is nou as Speaker van die Raad verkies met die volle steun van beide die ANC en die EFF.

Die Vryheidsfront Plus het nie die aantygings teen die vorige Speaker ondersteun nie, en ook nie die verkiesing van die nuwe Speaker nie. Hierdie standpunt word deur die VF Plus-raadslede, Rdl Johnathan Haarhoff en Rdl Corrie Wolmerans, gehandhaaf.