Limpopo Municipality: Fourth mayor elected in 16 months

The Lephalale local municipality in the Waterberg region of Limpopo has elected its fourth mayor in 16 months.

The first was the ANC’s Alpheus Thulare, who was elected soon after the 2021 local government elections as caretaker mayor. He was followed by Nico Pienaar of the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Pienaar was toppled through a motion of no confidence amid allegations he was ineffective. A few months later, he was succeeded by Louisa Shongwe of the ANC.

Division

But Shongwe’s election was contentious as it resulted in the council being divided through factional battles.

Yesterday the council elected the ANC’s Aaron Mokgehle as new mayor of the beleaguered municipality.

Mokgehle has been the Limpopo ANC’s provincial executive committee’s favourite for the position since November 2021.

He was unopposed by all 19 ANC councillors.

“The ANC in the Waterberg region welcomes the election of Mokgehle as the new mayor,” Seraka Mapeka, spokesperson for the ANC in the Waterberg region.

“We are optimistic that his election will bring to finality a long-standing stalemate that had stifled council’s endeavours to provide services to the people of Lephalale.”

Mapeka said Mokgehle’s workload is enormous. But he added that Mokgehle was equal to the task as he had the support of councillors, the staff and the ANC, both in the region and in the province.

READ MORE: ANC Limpopo: Third mayor for embattled Lephalale municipality

Victory

Mapeka added that the ANC in the region believed Mokgehle was the right person to deliver the ANC a 2024 election victory.

On behalf of the DA, Pienaar said: “We take note of the fourth ANC mayor elected in less than two years. Let’s see how long he lasts.

“We strongly feel the focus should be on service delivery for the people of Lephalale and not for them to suffer because of the infighting of the ANC.”

In his acceptance speech, Mokgehle called for unity in the council.

NOW READ: Opposition parties to oust Limpopo mayor fails

– news@citizen.co.za