SEDIBENG.- The incoming ANC Regional Executive Committee (REC) has told the Executive Mayor of the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), Sipho Radebe, to resign.

This was revealed in a letter written to the office of the ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, seen by Sedibeng Ster, dated and signed on February 10.

In the letter, Radebe said that the reasons advanced for this request (his resignation) were that the ELM continues to experience severe financial challenges, and that he (Radebe) has allegedly failed to bring about financial stability, with assertions that the municipality is in a state of decline.

“I respectfully submit that this characterisation is neither politically fair nor factually accurate, particularly when properly contextualised against the condition of the municipality at the time I assumed office in 2021. At that point, Emfuleni was facing a far more devastating financial, infrastructure, and service delivery crisis than is the case today,” Radebe wrote.

In the letter, Radebe gave a detailed presentation outlining the work done by his administration since 2021. He also made Mbalula aware that since the inception of his administration, several key political and administrative leadership positions within the ELM have been occupied by senior ANC regional leaders, including:

• The Regional Chairperson, serving as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Executive Mayor;
• The Regional Secretary, serving as Manager: Supply Chain Management;
• The Deputy Regional Chairperson, serving as Speaker of Council; and
• The Regional Treasurer, serving as MMC of Finance.
• Makhosonke Sangweni, Mphikeleli Msibi (ANC spokesperson and also spokesperson of the Executive Mayor),
• Ms Surertta (political advisor to MMC Corporate Services),
• Dimakatso Chocho in the office of the Speaker,
• Tefo Molakeng in the office of the Speaker (and),
•  Linda Mavuso

“These comrades have been part of both the political and administrative leadership of the municipality and are fully aware of the scale, depth, and historical origins of Emfuleni’s challenges. To suggest that my removal alone will stabilise the municipality within a period of seven to nine months appears inconsistent with the principle of collective leadership and responsibility that has guided this administration throughout the term.”

Radebe further said that while he does not deny that the ELM continues to face serious service delivery and financial challenges — including ongoing water interruptions, infrastructure backlogs, and qualified audit outcomes — these challenges are structural, historical, and long-standing.

“They cannot be honestly or fairly attributed to a single individual, particularly in the absence of an objective and comprehensive performance assessment,” Radebe said.

“I am deeply concerned that the request for my removal may not be informed by an objective evaluation of performance, but rather influenced by internal political dynamics following the recent regional conference. Comrade Secretary-General, I wish to state unequivocally that I have no personal attachment to office and would relinquish it if required by the organisation — but only based on principle, honesty, and factual integrity,” Radebe said.

ANC Sedibeng Spokesperson, Mphikeleli ‘Fire’ Msibi said that the regional office bearers have presented a detailed, evidence based report to the Gauteng ANC PTT Officials on the state of governance in Sedibeng Region and that a meeting was held on Tuesday, February 10.

” Following the presentation to the provincial leadership. The regional office bearers held one – on – one sessions with all affected comrades, this includes Cde Sipho Radebe who is deployed by the ANC in Emfuleni Local Municipality. as the Executive Mayor. To communicate the decision of their redeployment, and gave comrades an opportunity to ventilate their views. There are internal processes that are still underway including consultation with the ANC PTT officials , our coalition partners , alliance partners and our structures across the region.”

Msibi said that this process aims to address governance related matters across all the municipalities in the region.

” The regional office bearers are in constant communication with the ANC Gauteng PTT officials, alliance parteners and coalition partners on implementing further changes of reconfiguring and strengthinging of governance in our municipalities. Once this process is concluded, the ANC in the region will communicate it’s decisions.”