Dannhauser mayor resigns hours after vote amid leadership turmoil
Dannhauser mayor resigns hours after election as residents protest worsening water outages.
Dannhauser was plunged into further uncertainty yesterday when a newly elected mayor resigned just five hours after being sworn in.
Sibusiso Kunene of the Inkatha Freedom Party was voted in following a motion of no confidence in the ANC’s Bongani Hadebe.
However, shortly after assuming office and receiving the ceremonial chain, Kunene was instructed to step down following a resolution by the party’s National Executive Committee.
Dr AS Mokona, chairperson of the national deployment committee, said the decision would “enable the NEC to appropriately administer deployments within the council”.
It remains unclear who will serve as interim mayor.
Protest coincides with council reshuffle
The leadership upheaval coincided with an attempt by residents to shut down the town in protest against ongoing water outages, which many say have reached a breaking point.
Although the shutdown failed to gain widespread support, residents expressed frustration at what they described as “musical chairs” in the council chamber while service delivery concerns persist.
“The chickens have come home to roost. Yesterday’s events exposed the rot of power abuse and systemic injustice. Our citizens, treated like prisoners in their own town, faced intimidation and oppression. The entitled elite, flaunting their wealth and influence, have forgotten that power is transient. Prayers outlast corruption. Instead of fighting for positions, they should fix our crumbling infrastructure and serve the people. Don’t be fooled by their charm and facade – they’re predators in disguise. Rise up, let’s reclaim our town.”
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