Mpumalanga ANC mayors repositioned
The ANC’s provincial secretary, Muzi Chirwa, said the aim of the redeployment is for the councillors to attend to new responsibilities to strengthen service delivery, especially in eMalahleni.
The Mpumalanga ANC has made some changes in their mayoral line-up in three municipalities. These changes have seen the eMalahleni Local Municipality’s mayor, Cllr Conny Nkalitshana, being moved and redeployed to Nkangala District Municipality.
Nkalitshana came under fire a few months ago following a number of service delivery protests in eMalahleni, which at times turned violent. This community took to the streets on May 8, disrupting traffic on the busy N4 and setting trucks alight. Residents blocked the roads and demanded that the municipality take action to address the frequent power cuts and water issues in the community.
It was during this protest that some residents became extremely violent and attacked the mayor. Two children died when they were allegedly caught in the crossfire between the demonstrators and the police.
Following this protest, community members called on the ANC to fire Nkalitshana, with some residents taking to social media threatening to boycott the party in the upcoming elections.
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Confirming these changes was the ANC’s provincial secretary, Muzi Chirwa, who explained they were proactive changes and in the best interest of the people and service delivery. “We have not fired anyone as widely reported, we simply redeployed our councillors to new responsibilities to strengthen service delivery, especially in eMalahleni,” he said.
Chirwa said Nkalitshana will be replaced by Cllr Leah Mabuza, who was attached to the Nkangala District. He said the ANC also resolved to redeploy the eMakhazeni Local Municipality’s mayor, Thomas Ngwenya, to Nkangala District. He said they were busy with interviews to find a suitable candidate to replace him.
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The Mpumalanga EFF has welcomed Nkalitshana’s removal from the helm of eMalahleni’s municipality, arguing that she had failed to bring stability and deliver services. “This municipality has been plagued by issues of corruption, maladministration and political squabbles for the longest time. Due to this, services delivery has been hampered and the municipality is battling with huge debts,” said Collen Sedibe, the party’s provincial chairperson.
Thoko Mashiane, ActionSA’s provincial chairperson, also welcomed Nkalitshana’s removal, but argued that this municipality needs to be placed under administration.
