ANC sharpens axe to chop defiant Standerton mayor

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ANC sharpens axe to chop defiant Standerton mayor
DEFIANT: Standerton mayor Linda Dhlamini. PICTURE BY MfisoDIGITAL/ZK.

New engagements may see the party laying an ambush on the SANCO leader.


The ANC in Mpumalanga says their decision recalling the mayor of Lekwa municipality ‘stands’ and will try other means to make sure he leaves the post.

Linda Dhlamini was recalled on 18 March 2018 but has since refused to leave the post.

He was recalled together with Harriet Khotha, the municipal speaker, as well as chief whip Mapaseka Molaba but all three are still in their jobs.

Dhlamini, a provincial deputy secretary of SANCO in Mpumalanga, was elected unopposed the mayor of Lekwa during a council sitting right after the 3 August 2016 local government elections.

The ANC wants him to leave the post and be replaced by regional treasurer Khosi Khota because of an “impasse” in the municipality “which affects service delivery” but Dhlamini supporters believe this is a plan by the ANC to put people who will toe the line and continue corruption.

ANC sharpens axe to chop defiant Standerton mayor
Khosi Khota. PIC MfisoDIGITAL/ZK.

READ: Inside the deadly Standerton protests

They vow to fight and ensure Dhlamini remains the mayor.

Gert Sibande ANC spokesman Sabelo Sikhakhane said as a region they await a decision of the provincial executive committee of the ANC that will sit and “finalise” whether Khota becomes the new mayor or Dhlamini continues.

“The PEC will sit and resolve all the impasse that exist in Lekwa,” he said.

ANC acting provincial secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali said the decision they took on 18 March 2018 recalling Dhlamini “still stands”.

“You will remember that we have been having meetings in Lekwa, doing consultations and we made it clear that our decision still stands and there will be a certain process to implement it,” she said over the phone.

(edited by ZK)

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