The Office of the Executive Mayor and the ANC in the Northern Cape have dismissed reports that Sol Plaatje mayor Patrick Mabilo has been placed on special leave.
THE OFFICE of the Sol Plaatje Executive Mayor and the ANC in the Northern Cape were quick to dispel reports that mayor Patrick Mabilo was placed on special leave on Wednesday.
The spokesperson for the Office of the Executive Mayor, Persome Oliphant, yesterday dismissed the rumours as “fake news”.
“The Office of the Executive Mayor has noted social media reports that Sol Plaatje Municipality executive mayor, Alderman Patrick Mabilo has been put on special leave until the local government elections that are set to take place on November 1,” said Oliphant.
“These reports circulating on social media are incorrect. Mabilo will continue in his capacity as executive mayor until the 2021 local government elections are held.
“The executive mayor remains focused on service delivery.”
ANC Frances Baard regional secretary Wende Marekwa said that Mabilo had not been removed or replaced as Sol Plaatje mayor.
“The ANC will ensure that proper measures are put in place to ensure leadership stability in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, to deliver quality services to the broader community,” Marekwa added.
“In preparation for the upcoming local government elections, the ANC is hard at work, engaging communities through door-to-door campaigns as part of our continuous efforts to mobilise the electorate to vote for the ANC and towards building better communities together.”
In a letter that was posted on Facebook on Wednesday night, ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga said that the false rumours were intended to destabilise the municipality.
