By Doreen Mokgolo
- Three opposition parties want Ekurhuleni’s mayor and speaker removed over R2 billion missing from city coffers.
- The city has had three mayors since 2021, each serving about a year before being voted out.
Three opposition parties want to remove Ekurhuleni’s mayor and council speaker, saying the city has lost R2 billion in rates and services that weren’t collected.
The Independent Citizens Movement (ICM), ACDP and DA, all drawn from minority parties in the council, have brought motions of no confidence against mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza and speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga.
The motions will be discussed next week before going to the March council meeting.
Last month, Tshivhenga survived a similar motion when the IFP withdrew it at the last minute to allow for more consultation.
ICM leader Joe Mojapelo said they’re worried about how the city’s money is being managed.
“We are not meeting set targets for rates collections, in the latest report we had a shortfall of R2 billion,” said Mojapelo.
“The mayor is supposed to bring stability in council but he is sowing division by alienating other parties in a bid to hold on to power.
“We voted for him uncontested because we hoped that the ANC will bring the needed stability and unite the 16 political parties represented in council,” he said.
Mayor Xhakaza claims the motion comes from people who don’t want to account for the R2 billion shortfall in meter reading.
But Mojapelo, who was once the city’s chief operations officer, says the case is from 2021 when he had already left office.
“I am not implicated in that case, it was brought in council and it was recommended that it be investigated internally but the council ruled that external auditors be appointed,” said Mojapelo.
The auditor general is now investigating the matter.
DA’s Lucky Dinake said they want the speaker removed to restore the council’s dignity.
“On more than one occasion the speaker has brought the decorum of council into question by not only acting in a partisan manner but has also failed to adhere to legislation,” said Dinake.
Since the 2021 municipal elections, Ekurhuleni has had three mayors who each served about a year before being removed.
Tania Campbell was removed in 2022, re-elected, and then voted out in 2023. The AIC’s Sivuyile Ngodwana took over until 2024 when the ANC’s Xhakaza was elected.
Pictured above: Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
