EFF challenges alleged appointment of acting mayor in Govan Mbeki Municipality

The political dispute over leadership in Govan Mbeki Municipality has intensified after the Mpumalanga EFF accused the ANC in the Gert Sibande District of installing MMC for Corporate Services Doctor Mtshali as acting mayor of the municipality.

EFF provincial chairperson Collen Sedibe described the alleged move as an attempt to change the municipality’s leadership “through the back door” and questioned the legality of appointing an acting mayor while Nhlakanipho Zuma remains the municipality’s elected mayor.

Sedibe said the ANC could not simply impose a new mayor without following the appropriate legislative and council processes.

“If the ANC wants a new mayor, let them recall the current mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, first, and then allow council to elect a new mayor,” said Sedibe.

He maintained that Zuma remains the duly elected mayor until the relevant processes to remove him from office have been followed.

Sedibe also warned municipal officials against taking instructions from anyone he described as an “illegally imposed” acting mayor.

However, the ANC in Gert Sibande has rejected the allegations. ANC Gert Sibande spokesperson, Castro Nkosi, said there is no other mayor in Govan Mbeki Municipality apart from Zuma and dismissed claims that Mtshali had been appointed to replace him.

“As it stands, the ANC has no other mayor in Govan Mbeki Municipality except Nhlakanipho Zuma. Doctor Mtshali, who is our PEC member, remains an MMC for Corporate Services,” said Nkosi.

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Nkosi added that the ANC would communicate with the EFF, which he described as a strategic partner in Govan Mbeki Municipality, if and when the party decides to remove Zuma as mayor.

The allegations have nevertheless raised questions about the extent of Zuma’s current authority within the municipality.

A source with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity for fear of political victimisation, alleged that Zuma had effectively been stripped of his powers to make decisions, despite continuing to hold the position of mayor.

Ridge Times asked Zuma for comments, but he directed the newspaper back to the ANC.