EFF U-turn on removal of mayor

The Economic Freedom Fighters acknowledge sharing the concerns raised by opposition parties about his leadership but will stick with coalition

- Lunga Mzangwe

The Economic Freedom Fighters will not support a motion to remove Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, a member of the ANC, despite the EFF having previously voiced concerns about his leadership.

The motion, filed two weeks ago by Independent Citizen Movement (ICM) councillor Joe Mojapelo and seconded by the African Christian Democratic Party, accuses Xhakaza of financial mismanagement, leadership failures and ignoring directives from the council.

In a letter to council speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, Mojapelo wrote that the city "urgently requires a capable and visionary executive mayor who prioritises good governance, financial prudence and strategic leadership".

"The city is currently facing severe challenges, including deteriorating service delivery, financial instability and governance failures, which have worsened under the leadership of executive mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza," Mojapelo stated.

He also cited the failure of the city's revenue-enhancement strategy, a R2 billion shortfall in debt collection and significant delays in budget approval that, he argued, compromised the city's financial stability and ability to deliver services.

EFF Gauteng chairperson and former member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for finance, Nkululeko Dunga, acknowledged in an interview with Newzroom Afrika last week that many of Mojapelo's concerns aligned with long-standing issues raised by the EFF.

"In the majority, all the concerns that they raise in their own motions have been consistently raised by the EFF itself," Dunga said.