ActionSA has confirmed that its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, will not accept a seat on the City of Ekurhuleni’s mayoral committee.
The announcement comes after a late-night cabinet reshuffle by Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
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Khumalo was slated to serve as MMC for Community Services and By-law Enforcement. However, ActionSA released a statement on Wednesday morning, insisting that he would not participate in what the party described as a “failing and corrupt” administration.
Herman Mashaba Speaks After Xolani Khumalo Appointed
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba reiterated the party’s refusal to join Xhakaza’s executive, labelling the reshuffle a strategic attempt to manipulate public perception.
“Following repeated and unsuccessful attempts by mayor Xhakaza to solicit ActionSA’s participation in his administration, I have consistently made it clear that we will not join his failing government and have rejected every personal and formal approach made to us,” Mashaba said.
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He added, “The people of Ekurhuleni are tired of dysfunction, lawlessness and the collapse of basic municipal services. ActionSA’s focus remains on restoring governance, cleaning out corruption, restoring the rule of law and fixing the fundamentals of service delivery.”
Ekurhuleni Council Tensions Fuel Reshuffle
Mayor Xhakaza’s reshuffle saw most EFF members of the mayoral committee removed, with seats redistributed among the ANC, minority parties, and ActionSA.
The mayor allocated five seats to the ANC and two to the EFF, leaving other positions for smaller parties. ActionSA, however, declined the offer.
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The move follows previous reports suggesting the mayor wanted to distance himself from EFF partners in the council, particularly after a controversial decision to appoint an ANC speaker to a position traditionally held by the EFF.
This decision prompted EFF leader Julius Malema to announce a withdrawal of support for the ANC in areas where agreements existed.
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