Opposition parties and civil rights groups believe the recent mayoral reshuffle is motivated by factional battles within the ANC, unfolding in the lead-up to the party’s regional conference.
OPPOSITION parties and civil rights groups are convinced that the recent mayoral reshuffle is motivated by factional battles that are unfolding ahead of the ANC regional conference.
ANC regional chairperson Mangaliso Matika, Frances Baard District mayor Unondumiso Buda and chief director in the Office of the Premier Thulani Binase are in the race for leadership positions in the Frances Baard region.
While the ANC has already pronounced the new mayors and Speakers at Sol Plaatje Municipality and Dawid Kruiper Municipality, political parties will also be voting for opposition candidates to fill these positions.
Parties claimed that there was a strong possibility of an opposition-led council if voting took place by secret ballot.
ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga made the surprise announcement on Tuesday evening that Member of Parliament Barbara Bartlett would be the new Sol Plaatje executive mayor.
He added that the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, would be the new Speaker at Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Peters was suspended for one term for breaching the code of ethics at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) earlier this year.
She had also dismissed the Prasa board of directors which uncovered R14 billion in irregularities.
Kagisho Sonyoni redeployed
Ngxanga stated that Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni would be redeployed to the mayoral committee at Frances Baard District Municipality.
“The Speaker, Nomazizi Shwababa, will join the mayoral committee within Sol Plaatje Municipality.”
Nxganga also stated that ANC ZF Mgcawu regional secretary David Kazi would replace Michael Sigede as the executive mayor of Dawid Kruiper Municipality.
Sigede will be sent to Parliament
Nxganga explained that the reshuffle was aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening both municipalities.
“We have undergone a rigorous process of self-introspection following our defeat at the polls in May. The decline in our support base necessitated that the ANC take action and listen to the voices of the people.“
He stated that the incumbent leaders’ proven commitment to community service and governance would greatly benefit residents.
‘An attack on the youth’
The ANC Youth League provincial task team (ANCYL PTT) believed that the exit of Sonyoni as mayor was premature.
ANCYL PTT spokesperson Tshepo Mkhonza said that the reshuffle amounted to an attack on youth leadership in the Province.
“We are not satisfied with the age of the new mayor and Speaker at Sol Plaatje Municipality. Young people must be given a chance. We stand against the removal of young people in favour of the oldest cadres in the movement, such as Peters who is a member of the ANC Veterans League.“
He added that Sonyoni would remain a ward councillor and would act as a representative for Sol Plaatje Municipality at Frances Baard District Municipality.
DA caucus leader Elize Niemann, however, pointed out that the district municipality was constituted of proportional representatives and Sonyoni would have to relinquish his position as a ward councillor.
“The DA will meet with opposition parties to decide on the way forward,” she said.
ACDP councillor Roddy Loff stated that two ANC proportional councillors would also have to be removed to make space for the incumbent mayor and Speaker.
“The removal of Sonyoni as a ward councillor will result in a by-election. The ANC will have to rely on one of the opposition parties to secure positions as it is no longer in the majority.”
PA councillor Franscina van der Ross recommended that a DA mayor and EFF Speaker should be appointed.
“It is time for change. The ANC can serve on the mayoral committees.”
‘An opposition mayor and Speaker’
Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum’s Dennis Pienaar said that they would support an opposition mayor and Speaker.
“The reshuffle has nothing to do with placing the interests of the community first or improved, effective and efficient quality service delivery. ANC cadres are fighting their own battles.”
Community activist Herbert Miller believed that the redeployments were politically motivated.
“There are competitors who want Sonyoni removed to prevent his faction from gaining access to the resources and finances of the municipality. This will decrease the chances of Mangaliso Matika being re-elected as ANC regional chairperson.”
He was not convinced that a change of guard would bring about any difference in the lives of communities.
“It has nothing to do with serving the people, rather it is all about stomach politics.”
Boyce Makodi from the Kimberley Action Group said that while the removal of the mayor was one item that could be ticked off their list, it did not mean that the city shutdown was called off.
‘Municipality left in tatters’
“Sonyoni failed to stabilise the municipality, which has been left in tatters. The new mayor must be committed to restoring Sol Plaatje Municipality to its former glory.“
He advised that a new mayoral committee should be appointed to restore public trust in the council.
“The new mayor must address our list of 46 unresolved frustrations including the Section 106 investigation, high electricity tariffs, billing inaccuracies and procurement irregularities, as well as the unaccounted R500 million that was supposed to restore the sparkle of the city and the declining economy.”
Makodi was resolute that the council should be dissolved to prevent its further decline.
The MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass, informed the Kimberley Action Group on October 31 that he had requested the mayor to respond to their request for a comprehensive investigation into allegations of mismanagement and irregularities.
‘A poor calculation of leadership’
EFF regional secretary Pontsho Mocwana stated that poor leadership, management and political interference were collapsing the municipality.
“The decision to have a fairly young official at the helm of the biggest municipality in the Frances Baard District without management and political experience was a poor calculation of leadership.”
He added that the lack of service delivery was the reason why people had lost confidence in the municipality.
“Supply chain management processes are being used as a money market agency to fund political campaigns, which reduced the mayor to being nothing more than a puppet.”
FF+ provincial leader Dr Wynand Boshoff pointed out that the midnight reshuffle exposed the severity of the crisis faced by municipalities in the Province.
“Apart from the downgrade of Sol Plaatje from a category 5 to category 4 municipality and the Hawks’ in-depth investigation at Dawid Kruiper Municipality, Sonyoni’s appointment as mayor was controversial from the onset. Although he has potential, he requires quite a bit of experience for such a large municipality. Pressure kept mounting with the ongoing water crisis and decaying infrastructure.”
He pointed out that the ANC was reliant on the PA and GOOD to keep them in the majority.
“Factional fights are hampering the council’s ability to function.”
