This move followed a string of alleged maladministration and failed efforts of the Metro to provide services to residents. The Mangaung Interim Regional Committee (IRC) spokesperson, Ncamsa Ngxangisa, confirms to OFM News that the region has already initiated the infant stages of recalling Mxolisi Siyonzana, who is also the former speaker of the cash-strapped metro. Ngxangisa says the Interim Provincial Committee (IPC), through the convener, Mxolisi Dukwana, has shared with the public names forwarded for consideration. The names include the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Finance, Laluma Odile Titi, among two others. The metro was earlier placed under the national government’s care following years of failure to deliver basic services to residents across the metro.

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However, it’s understood that the national mother body, which is the National Executive Committee (NEC), can only make such determinations to remove a sitting mayor of a metropolitan. The alleged political infighting at the metro is said to be at the forefront of the failed administration. Senior officials with political affiliations at the Metro are allegedly at a crossroads with one another.

“A mayor can only be recalled by the NEC, however, I can confirm that the region has already initiated the infant stages of it, hence the IPC - through the convener - was able to share names with the public that we forwarded for consideration. I.e Cde Seiso Mohai, Cde Lulama Odile Titi, and Cde Gregory Nthatisi. The region is empowered by the constitution of the ANC to give political oversight to the municipality. However, the region doesn’t possess original powers but they are mainly delegated by the IPC, hence we must consult with the IPC on matters of placing or recalling deployees for their further processing, ratification or advice.

"However, because the MMM has been declared a Metropolitan Municipality, the final arbiter in deciding which Mayor is recalled and who will be the incumbent candidate, lies with the NEC,” Ngxangisa adds.

This is a decision that will be made once the region has recommended and submitted the three names. The IPC will submit it to the NEC once they are satisfied.

When the NEC agrees with the removal of Siyonzana, it will conduct interviews to ascertain the suitability of the candidates and it’s only after all these processes that a formal indication of remanding or recalling a deployee of the ANC will happen and be announced.

The Metro’s acting City Manager (CM), Tebogo Motlashuping, admitted that the municipality is riddled with decaying infrastructure.

ALSO READ: Mangaung Metro’s infrastructure decaying after neglect

On Thursday 28 October 2022, Motlashuping revealed that the decaying infrastructure which was neglected for years has since led to, among others, massive sewage spillages across towns in the metro.

As things stand, the Metro is allegedly struggling with the availability of diesel and this has since hampered its efforts to provide basic service delivery.

According to a source in the upper echelons of the party, Siyonzana was offered a position at the National Parliament but refused it. Responding to the question of whether this is true or not, IPC spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, says he is not aware of it.

OFM News