Mhlonishwa Masilela remains the mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality after the special council meeting collapsed.
Mbombela – Chaos erupted during the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s special council sitting which was aimed at debating a motion of no confidence against executive mayor, Cllr Mhlonishwa Masilela on Friday, 17 May 2024.
The special sitting collapsed after some ANC members attacked the speaker, Thato Mathunyane.
The members did not want Mathunyane to chair the meeting, citing that speaker flouted the rules of order by not giving notice of what the ANC believes is now a new meeting.
It’s alleged that Mathunyane was assaulted during the commotion in full view of law enforcement and security personnel who were called in the fracas broke out.
The motion was tabled by the Middelburg & Hendrina Residents Front. The party cited Masilela’s alleged lack of decisive and effective leadership in the municipality as some of the reasons for the motion.
The council was initially set to vote on the motion on Monday, 13 May 2024 however, it was postponed after Masilela submitted a sick note before the council sitting. Municipal manager, Mandla Mnguni had advised the council to keep the matter in abeyance until the mayor can be present to exercise his right to defend himself against the allegations.
This was not the first motion of no confidence tabled against Masilela. He previously survived the EFF’s previous attempts to kick him out of the office, after tabling a motion of no confidence in October 2022.
Speaking to Rise FM News after the collapsed meeting, Masilela said that the actions of ANC members in council on Friday were not a disruption but a robust expression after the speaker overruled them.
Meanwhile, the EFF councilor, Joseph Ngubeni said the ANC wants to remain in power by hook or crook.
