Don’t Remove Them Without My Approval

The Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbalula, has issued a warning to ANC provincial leaders regarding the arbitrary removal of mayors without his approval.

In a letter addressed to the provincial secretaries of the party, Mbalula emphasized the importance of following the governing party’s guidelines and processes in appointing mayors, members of the mayoral committee (MMCs), and council speakers.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Judge Criticises Lack Of Evidence In Zandile Gumede DSW Fraud Case

Mbalula expressed concern over reports of provincial executive committees (PEC) in certain provinces removing mayors and appointing replacements without adhering to the necessary processes. To address this issue, the ANC’s national executive committee adopted criteria and guidelines for the appointment of mayors in 2021.

The criteria and guidelines include a nomination and screening process for mayoral candidates, with a preference for candidates holding postgraduate qualifications. According to the ANC, eligible mayors must possess a tertiary qualification, have at least five years of local government experience or relevant experience from government, or demonstrate leadership at an executive level in a non-government institution.

Mbalula’s letter reiterated the importance of communicating any proposal to remove a mayor to the secretary-general, along with a detailed motivation. The provincial office bearers would then be required to present the proposal to the national officials. If the proposal is agreed upon or a vacancy arises, the relevant PEC must submit the names of three candidates who meet the attached criteria.

A panel, consisting of National Executive Committee (NEC) members and PEC observers, will conduct interviews with the proposed candidates. The outcome of the interview panel will be presented to the National Working Committee (NWC) and/or NEC for consideration, taking into account the urgency of the matter.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Government Denies Running Out Of Money, Emphasises Prudent Financial Management

In recent months, several ANC mayors have been recalled by provincial structures. In January, the ANC Free State interim provincial committee recalled Mangaung mayor, Mxolisi Siyonzana, following concerns raised by the national leadership about the poor state of the metro.

Similarly, in March, the Eastern Cape PEC recalled Xola Pakati as Buffalo City mayor and replaced her with Princess Faku. Pakati expressed dissatisfaction with his removal, which was covered by the Mail & Guardian.