Political tensions in the City of Ekurhuleni have escalated sharply, with opposition parties calling for Executive Mayor Doctor Xhakaza to step down amid mounting instability in the metro.
The latest upheaval follows the sudden resignation of Jongizizwe Dlabathi from the mayoral committee on Thursday. Dlabathi, widely regarded as a close ally of Xhakaza, stepped down amid reports of a serious fallout between the pair.
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His departure came just days after he publicly dismissed suggestions of turmoil within the municipality. “We wish to assure the residents of Ekurhuleni that there is no crisis in the City of Ekurhuleni. There is no crisis in the leadership of the executive mayor and his team,” Dlabathi said at a media briefing last Friday.
Finance MMC Resignation Leaves Ekurhuleni Without Key Leadership
Within a week of that statement, Dlabathi resigned both as MMC for Finance and as the ANC’s regional secretary in Ekurhuleni, intensifying pressure on the mayor.
The metro is now without a finance MMC and a council speaker, while facing a tight deadline to pass its adjustment budget. Xhakaza is leading a minority coalition government after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) withdrew from the governing arrangement and ActionSA declined an offer from the African National Congress (ANC) to join forces.
On Wednesday night, Xhakaza appointed Dora Mlambo as MMC for Economic Development. The move required Mlambo to vacate her position as council speaker the following day, leaving the municipality without a presiding officer at a critical time.
With the ANC at the helm of a minority government, it must now seek support from either the EFF, ActionSA or the Democratic Alliance (DA) to secure the election of a new speaker and stabilise council proceedings.
EFF And ActionSA Call For Xhakaza’s Removal Over Budget And Governance Concerns
The EFF in Gauteng criticised the mayor’s decision-making, particularly the timing of the leadership changes.
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“Making such a drastic change mere hours before council was due to vote on the adjusted budget created institutional uncertainty and directly contributed to the collapse of council. This was not an oversight, but a deliberate and calculated move to plunge the municipality into turmoil at a time when stability is desperately needed,” the party said in a statement.
“These actions are consistent with the misleadership pattern of Dr Xhakaza, which we have consistently warned the public about. The only way to put an end to this madness is to have him removed from the position of executive mayor, which he has already dishonoured.”
ActionSA echoed similar sentiments, accusing the mayor of creating instability within a short period.
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“In just two weeks, the mayor has reshuffled his mayoral committee twice in a unilateral decision that even members of his own political party are found wanting. ActionSA rejected the undermining move by the mayor and the ANC to force us into a coalition government that has no credibility and marred with reports of corruption.”
The party warned that failure to pass the adjustment budget could expose the municipality to the risk of being placed under administration.
As coalition negotiations remain uncertain, Ekurhuleni faces a decisive period, with key leadership posts vacant and financial deadlines looming.
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