POLOKWANE – Polokwane mayor Freddy Greaver officially resigned during a special council meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
In his final address to council, he referred to an incident that happened shortly after he took up office in 2010. “DA councillor Mars de Klerk came up to me, saying I should look after my family. Their time has now arrived.”
Greaver spoke frankly about his tenure as mayor, reiterating that he was part of a collective that had as its primary goal service delivery to the poor.
“I have often read that, as a mayor, I continuously pursued clean governance. Once again, this was done as a collective effort. If you think clean governance is not primarily the aim of the ANC, you have not read the ANC’s policies properly,” he said.
He said he had been privileged to serve the people of Polokwane.
“There are many people out there who are more educated than I am, have more experience in public service than I have, but who was not fortunate enough to lead this city. It has been an honour.”
In response, opposition parties had only praise for Greaver.
“Even though we did not always agree on politics, you were the best thing that happened to the city in the last decade and a half,” Freedom Front Plus councillor Johan Willemse noted.
Another councillor praised Greaver for being a man of principle. “We know you often closed doors for comrades and we respect you for that.”
A short caucus was held after which the mayoral committee meeting was held.
Member of finance and economic development, Charles Molepo, will serve as acting mayor in interim. The ANC has confirmed that Thembi Nkadimeng was identified to take up the mayoral position as soon as due process was followed.
During a press conference after the council meeting, Greaver reiterated his loyalty to the ANC, saying accomplishments under his leadership were reached through a collective effort by all involved.
