By Amy Musgrave
Mogale City Local Municipality mayor Danny Thupane has resigned from his position just hours before a motion of no confidence could be tabled against him in a council meeting on Wednesday.
The municipality has been in political turmoil, which has had a devastating impact on service delivery to its residents.
In a public letter written by Thupane, which is circulating on social media and community groups, he says that after a meeting with members of his party, the African Transformation Movement, and the African National Congress, he has resigned with immediate effect.
The Freedom Front Plus’ Danie Toerien said in a statement that it was no secret that Thupane was “just a puppet of the ANC and EFF”.
“As the only councillor of the African Transformation Movement, he persuaded the ANC and EFF to elect him as mayor and in return, he agreed to dance to their tune.
“His dance moves obviously did not impress his masters, so, he threw in the towel before he could be knocked out,” he said.
The Mogale city council must now elect a new mayor, which is the third since the municipal elections in 2021.
Toerien said the resignation could also mean that all 10 MMCs would need to be replaced again.
“The PAC’s sole councillor brought the motion of no confidence against Thupane and one cannot help but wonder which party would have supported this motion,” he said.
A motion of no confidence was also brought against the council’s whip, Tsholofelo Ramaisa, but it was unsuccessful.
And a motion of no confidence against ANC speaker Lucky Sele was also not supported by the councillors.
“The constant change in political leadership undermines continuity on all levels, be it budgets, development plans or a vision for a better future,” Toerien said.
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