THE DA is calling on the chairman of the Municipal Demarcation Board Thabo Manyoni resign and vacate his post with immediate effect.
In a statement, DA national spokesperson Cilliers Brink said Manyoni had been actively campaigning to become the ANC’s Free State chairperson, an undertaking which he says violates the impartiality of the MDB.
Manyoni claims the ‘regulations are silent’ on his ongoing political campaign to be the ANC’s Free State Chairperson.
Cilliers Brink, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, says Section 3 of the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, establishes the independence of the MDB and mandates the organization to be impartial.
“With his background as a former high ranking political figure in the ANC, Manyoni should never have been appointed as Chairman of the MDB. His appointment exposes a serious flaw in the Act, which enables cadre deployment to be effected by the appointing authority – in this case, the President,” said Brink.
“From the moment that he realized that he wanted to contest as the ANC’s Free State Chairperson, Manyoni should have immediately tendered his resignation. His continued stay as MDB Chairperson while simultaneously contesting for political office is highly unethical and unlawful, as made evident by the Act.”
Manyoni was appointed in 2019 as MDB Chairperson, for a five year term, by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“With his term due to expire in 2024, he remains bound by the provisions of the Act until he either chooses to resign or his term expires – whichever comes first,” said Brink.
“By insisting on hanging to his MDB post while campaigning for political office, Manyoni’s actions creates a real speculation that he wants to use the former as a fall-back plan should his bid to be the head of the ANC in the Free State fail,” said Brink.
“For the sake of the MDB’s integrity, Manyoni should do the right thing and resign as MDB Chairman.”
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