Msimanga resigns as mayor but Tshwane ANC wants him out now

After announcing that he would be resigning as Tshwane mayor two weeks ago, to focus on his campaign to become Gauteng premier ahead of the national elections, Solly Msimanga has made his resignation official on Thursday.

While the Tshwane ANC announced on Thursday morning they would submit an urgent motion of no confidence against Mayor Solly Msimanga as he had not rendered a formal resignation, Msimanga submitted his letter shortly after this on Thursday morning, stating he would leave his office on 11 February.

Before the normal council sitting, Msimanga submitted the letter to Speaker Katlego Mathebe, informing her of his formal resignation.

“I have, today, made the decision to resign as the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane,” he said in a letter dated 31 January 2019.

“I am confident that the DA will field the very best candidate to continue to lead the City of Tshwane. I know and have seen firsthand what a difference a clean DA government can do.”

“My resignation will allow me to extend teh work that the DA-led administration in Tshwane and Johannesburg have done, across Gauteng. The people of this province deserve this after decades of ANC plundering.”

“I hereby resign with effect from 11 February 2019 at 23:59.”

#TshwaneCouncil has gone for a break but ANC insists that their motion of no confidence in Msimanga be heard immediately … According to Msimanga’s resignation, he steps down on 11 February 2019 @eNCA pic.twitter.com/p3semAIR1f

— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) January 31, 2019

There have also been claims that Msimanga was pushed out of the city by the DA, citing unsatisfactory performance. In addition to that, Msimanga was recently at the centre of the multi-billion rand GladAfrica scandal and a scandal involving the hiring of unqualified staffers in his office.

ALSO READ: Malema: I don’t buy Msimanga’s reasons for resigning

Mathebe had received urgent requests from the ANC to debate a motion of no confidence against Msimanga but added that she saw no point in the request as Msimanga is already on his way out.

Despite this, the ANC is reportedly forging on with their request, demanding that it be put to a vote today alongside council business such as a notice of intention to suspend the city manager Moeketsi Mosola and a discussion on the AG report into the City of Tshwane.

READ NEXT: Msimanga was recalled by DA, he didn’t resign – ANC

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