SEDIBENG.– Alleged ongoing internal conflict within the ANC in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has derailed two consecutive council meetings due to a lack of a quorum.

According to Gerda Senekal, a Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) councillor in the municipality, a council meeting scheduled for May 28 could not proceed because ANC councillors failed to attend.

The meeting, Senekal said, was rescheduled for June 2, but it was derailed once again by an alleged boycott from the same councillors.

Senekal confirmed with Sedibeng Ster that the council was expected to elect a new mayor yesterday, May 2, following the ANC’s official recall of the previous mayor, Sipho Radebe, on May 29.

In an official statement, the ANC admitted that Radebe was removed from his post due to a widespread collapse of basic services and a general lack of good governance.

While the Municipal Structures Act does not clearly define the next steps, it is understood that the Municipal Manager, April Ntuli, must report the councillors’ absence. Senekal noted that councillors who miss meetings without a valid reason violate their Code of Conduct and could face disciplinary hearings or fines.

No new date for the meeting announced…

“A new date for a follow-up meeting has not yet been announced. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) consistently confronted former Mayor Radebe regarding the poor governing of Emfuleni – including issues such as inaccessible roads, minimal refuse removal, inadequate water and electricity supply, sewage spilling into rivers, and poor financial management. The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the mayor’s forced resignation, but if his successor comes from ANC ranks, the situation is unlikely to improve,” Senekal said.

Speaking on television news this morning, the DA Federal Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature suggested that the ANC is stalling because the party is undecided on who should replace Radebe.

On the other hand, when asked for a response regarding the ongoing situation, ELM spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni, stated that the public must wait for direction from the municipality through the speaker, adding that they will communicate once proceedings begin.

In the meantime, Sangweni confirmed that the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance, Hassan Mako, is currently serving as the acting mayor. Sangweni noted that Mako was already acting in the role when the decision to remove Radebe was made.

Mako is also the Regional Treasurer of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Sedibeng region.

ANC Sedibeng spokesperson Jason Mkhwane stated that internal processes to replace the mayor are currently underway in line with the party’s organisational procedures.