SEDIBENG. – It seems that the leadership debacle of the New Horizon Movement (NHM) will not end any time soon.

After a report by Sedibeng Ster last week (NHM wants ‘its’ seat in ELM), another group has come out to dispute the claim that former Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) MMC for Public Works Vincent Jones is not the legitimate leader of the party, saying that he is indeed the party’s leader.

Mpho Khang who said he was the legitimate NHM Spokesperson, said that Ben Motsukunyane and Butiki Nkopane, who had said they are demanding the axing of Jones from the ELM and that they were the legitimate leaders after being elected following a conference have tried by all means necessary to discredit the name of Jones, high jacking NHM and turning it into a corrupt and dishonest political party that uses people’s votes to get jobs and tenders.

“These hooligans have tried everything, they went to IEC to try to remove our President (Jones) as a party leader fraudulently, and they tried with the previous and current Municipal Manager (MM) in Emfuleni Local municipality to declare a vacancy. Still, in all their attempts they were found to be fake and illegitimate.”

He adds that Motsukunyane is no longer a member of NHM as he was removed from NHM’s PR list and that Nkopane claims to be the Secretary General of NHM but that he was never a member of NHM.

“In fact, he had his own political party (VISA) on the ballot of Ward 34 in the 2021 local government election. The real Secretary General of the New Horizon Movement is Citizen Jake Sefatsa (who) has represented NHM in all failed attempts of this clique that is so desperate for a job through Political office because both of them won’t pass the vetting process as they left their previous respective public employment under a “cloud”.”

In response, Nkopane said, “We must note that as the legitimate leadership structure, we distance ourselves from anything that Mpho Khang and Vincent Jones do or stand for, as they only confirm to be the openly displaying last kick of a dying horse. Mpho Khang and Vincent Jones have no political plan, apart from holding on to their earnings by causing divisions everywhere they go and being exposed for who they really are as power mongers, to the extent of demanding to be voted as Mayor by stabbing the coalition they entered into at the back.”

He also added that what Khang and Jones must do is to approach the High Court as they also intend to do so in the due cause, “in order to settle this matter”.

“We are aware that we’ve been called and labeled all sorts of names by these expelled individuals who are hellbent to put the name of our political party, NHM, into disrepute. NHM is growing daily under the leadership of Motsukunyane, and we will continue to serve the interest of the community of Emfuleni Municipality and broader communities in the Sedibeng Region. There’s nothing new from what Mpho Khang or Vicent Jones will say that they haven’t said before in both radio and newspaper about our legitimate leadership with more than 1000 constituency and members of NHM in good standing.”

Sedibeng Ster reported last week that following the recent axing of Jones from the mayoral committee, the New Horizon Movement (NHM) has called for the ELM to declare his seat vacant in the Council.

Jones, however, has refused to vacate his seat at the ELM saying that he does not recognise the new leadership.

NHM, ANC, PAC, Patriotic Alliance, Solidarity Party, and Vaal Party are in a coalition at the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), making it one of the major decision-makers in the municipality. Jones was axed by ELM Executive Mayor, Sipho Radebe as MMC together with PAC’s Mbuyiselo Gantsu after they allegedly supported a motion of no confidence against Radebe.

Khang told Sedibeng Ster that as the ‘legitimate’ and only NHM they are not deterred by political opportunists and that they remain resolute that local government must be depoliticized, that cadre deployment must be scrapped, and that politicians and political parties have failed and are still failing them.

“Nothing will shift us from our resolve, not the likes of Ben and Butiki, or any other thing. We remain optimistic that Emfuleni Local Municipality will change for the better and we are willing to do everything to see that change, even if it means that we must lose our salaries for that to happen.”