The regional ANC Women’s and Youth Leagues have come out in full support of KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca, whose position in office appears to hang on a knife’s edge.
While provincial ANC spokesperson Mafika Mndebele confirmed to the Courier last Friday that the ANC would be recalling Nhaca, the mayor’s office has countered this by saying that no formal instruction had been issued by the party.
Read: KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca to be recalled says provincial ANC
“She still enjoys the full benefits of being the mayor. She continues to discharge her day-to-day official duties and remains in office, contrary to what the Courier wrote last week,” said mayoral spokesperson, Sphelelo Ngobese.
Last Friday ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo announced a “reconfiguration” of the political leadership in KwaDukuza.
“In particular, we have taken a decision to strengthen the Troika of KwaDukuza Local Municipality and Caucus,” said Mtolo. We want to ensure unity, coherence and proper oversight over the administration.”
The ‘Troika’ refers to the political leadership in the municipality, namely the mayor, deputy-mayor (left vacant since Thulani Ntuli’s death in March last year), speaker Dolly Govender and chief whip Humphrey Mbatha. The remaining specifics of that reconfiguration have not been announced, nor has the provincial ANC announced a candidate to replace Nhaca.
While a mayor is voted for by council, their candidacy is decided by the party.
During a joint press briefing with the ANC’s General Justice Gizenga Mpanza (iLembe region) Youth League on Sunday morning, regional ANC Women’s League chairperson Lindi Zondi said she believed Nhaca was being unfairly targeted.
“If you are recalling Comrade Lindi, you are undermining the ANCWL,” said Zondi.
“Comrade Lindi has been doing a good job, and as we speak, we have not seen any protests or complaints about her performance. We believe Mtolo has a problem of undermining women, and we are appealing to him to stop doing that.”
The Courier has also seen a leaked and widely circulated letter from the mayor to ANC general secretary, Fikile Mbalula, asking for an investigation into the process of her recall.
Whether Mbalula will intervene remains to be seen.
ANC national had not responded to our requests for comment at the time of publication.
The mayor’s office chose not to comment further on internal party processes.
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