This follows the ousting of the embattled Matlosana mayor, Maetu Kgaile, in Klerksdorp yesterday (Thursday) during a drama-filled motion of no confidence.

The Dr Kenneth Kaunda region's Secretary-General, Lopang Rothman, tells OFM News that the conduct of ANC members is now becoming a worrying trend. He says the members are making this a fashionable conduct at the expense of the party. The ANC has in the past rapped its members on the knuckles for being in cahoots with opposition parties. Lopang says they are waiting to see what steps will be taken by the Provincial Task Team – currently leading the party in the provinces.

 “You would know that as the ANC we would not want to support any motion that is brought by the opposition against any deployee of the ANC. But obviously with the current developments now in the province and the region, especially here in our region, we are disappointed with what transpired,” says Rothman.

Rothman says that this undermines the integrity and puts the ANC into disrepute. He says they have learnt that the chief whip of the ANC in the municipality withdrew, what he says, are the forces of the ANC to inform councillors not to attend the meeting scheduled to remove the mayor.

He says they are shocked and still wonders as to what would have been the motive behind the Whip’s conduct. Yesterday (Thursday) 44 councillors voted in favour of the motion whilst zero councillors voted against it.

Reports say only 15 ANC councillors attended the meeting and voted with the DA, EFF, COPE, FF+ and F4SD to oust the mayor while the Irasa’s councillor Tonie Meiring walked out of the meeting. Reports further say chaos erupted during the council meeting when Kgaile's supporters in the public gallery disagreed with the vote.

A new mayor is expected to be appointed within 14 days. The next council meeting is scheduled for the 30th of this month. Yesterday the EFF’s Regional Secretary in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Buti Shuping, told OFM News that Kgaile was incompetent and needed to go. He accused Kgaile of having failed to deliver basic services to the local residents and showed little understanding of her mayoral duties since assuming office.

Kgaile was recently under scrutiny by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) after her official vehicle allegedly used to collect her medication in Gauteng on November 8, 2016, was involved in an accident and she failed to give a report to Scopa on the incident.

OFM News