ANC’s Secretary General Mbalula summons Free State leadership to Luthuli House. Image credit: SABC.
(The Post News)- The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has summoned the leadership of the Free State branch to Luthuli House in Johannesburg. This urgent meeting follows the party’s controversial decision to redeploy mayors, chief whips, and speakers from seven municipalities in the province.
The affected municipalities, which have been struggling with governance and financial challenges, are Mafube, Moqhaka, Letsemeng, Nketoana, Nala, Masilonyana, and Lejweleputswa. The Free State Provincial Working Committee (PWC) had earlier resolved to take strong actions against these under-performing municipalities after issues were raised in the Auditor General’s report and the Co-operative Governance Portfolio Committee’s oversight visit to the region.
Mbalula reported the necessity of the moves, citing, “The party cannot afford to have leaders who are unable to deliver the services the people of South Africa deserve. Our task is clear: to ensure effective governance in every municipality. The Free State is no different, and we have to make tough choices for the future.”
The controversy ignited when several mayors, chief whips, and speakers defied the party’s orders to step down. “This is about accountability. The leadership of the party in the Free State has given these mayors ample time to comply. Their refusal to follow through on directives is a matter of concern, and we cannot allow such defiance to continue unchecked,” Mbalula added.
The resisting mayors, however, have not backed down. In a statement released earlier this week, Mafube’s Mayor Thloare Motsoeneng, Moqhaka’s Mayor Motloheloa Mokatsane, and Masilonyana’s Mayor Dimakatso Modise said that they were being unfairly targeted.
Secretary General Mbalula’s meeting with the Free State leadership, set to take place in the coming days, will be pivotal in determining the future of the mayors and the ongoing leadership crisis within the province.
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