In a surprising turn of events, Steve Tshwete Municipality Speaker Thomas Mpye tendered his resignation letter to municipal manager Mandla Mnguni ahead of yesterday’s special council sitting in Middelburg.

The sitting was scheduled for council to consider recommendations by its rules and ethics committee, for a adjourned July sitting during which a motion of no confidence in Mpye was tabled to continue, after the ANC raised issues over the meeting being chaired by Mnguni.

With the support of two independent legal opinions, the ethics committee recommended that the July sitting be resumed for a vote on the no confidence motion.

During yesterday’s special council, Mpye took a seat on the floor among fellow councillors.

As the meeting kicked off, Mnguni announced that he had received a letter earlier the day, which read: “I, Thomas Mpye, resign as speaker of the council. Thank you.”

The sitting could, however, not continue due to squabbles over the interpretation of council’s rules and orders, with Mnguni insisting that an acting speaker needed to be elected to preside over the election of a full-time speaker.

The ANC disagreed, saying there was no need to elect an acting speaker, calling for an immediate vote on Mpye’s full-time replacement.

After a whips meeting, it was decided that a special council will be called within the next 14-days in order to elect a speaker of council.

The Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front’s (MHRF) Thato Mathunyane is tipped by fellow councillors to become council’s next speaker, as the DA is not allowed to enter into any coalitions to secure political leadership positions.

Mpye, a church reverend of Hendrina, is council’s only independent councillor. He has confirmed his allegiance to the ANC in previous sittings, resulting to the motion of no confidence in him.