SASOLBURG. – Barely three months after the ousting of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Jeff Zwane from the position of Executive Mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM), signs are emerging that the current Executive Mayor, Jack Malindi, may also be facing a similar fate.

The threat of coalition politics looms over Malindi, who replaced Zwane, as the African Independent Congress (AIC) councillor has fallen out of favour with coalition partners, prompting a motion of no-confidence in his leadership. Council spokesperson Dr. Gino Alberts confirmed to Ster South that a special sitting of the Metsimaholo Council will take place on November 16, 2023, to discuss the motion against Malindi.

The motion was initiated by the Metsimaholo Civic Association (MCA) with the backing of the African National Congress (ANC). Allegations suggest that Malindi upset coalition partners by failing to take action against members of the Mayoral Committee accused of undermining the Code of Conduct for Councillors, operational procedures, and his authority as the political head of the institution.

The actions of these councillors are also believed to be behind the recent mass resignation of ANC councillors from the Mayoral Committee, leading to its disbandment. While this move could have significant implications for governance in MLM, independent political analyst Professor Goodfriday Mhlongo does not foresee an immediate negative impact on service delivery. Mhlongo stated that the administration of the municipality is managed by the municipal manager and senior directors, suggesting that basic services should continue despite political leadership changes. With elections approaching next year, Mhlongo noted that municipalities governed by coalitions, like Metsimaholo, may experience instability as political parties compete for voter support and vie for control.