Riyaz Patel
City of Tshwane’s DA Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa’s two-month special leave was withdrawn during Thursday’s council sitting.
Scandal-hit Mokgalapa was placed on leave after an audio recording of him emerged of him purportedly having sex with the MMC for Roads and Transport Sheila Senkubuge, while also criticising colleagues.
The mayor maintained his innocence, saying he was being blackmailed with the leaked recording.
A motion of no confidence was also planned for Thursday afternoon but was delayed.
The ANC and the EFF successfully put the DA Chief Whip under pressure to withdraw Mokgalapa’s special leave.
ANC and EFF councillors insisted the correct processes were not followed when his leave was approved.
The parties demanded chief whip Christo van den Heever withdraw the leave, which he eventually agreed to.
The EFF underlined that council, and not the DA, must approve his leave.
The DA has also instituted a Federal Legal Commission probe against the mayor and the MMC, and appointed Abel Tau as acting Mayor.
It’s yet unclear what Thursday’s development means for Tau.
Tshwane council speaker Katlego Mathebe wanted the matter to be discussed at a later stage.
But, the suggestion was met with anger from the EFF’s MoAfrica Monongane.
“You are coming across as the very person who’s abusing power and you will force us to do what we are doing to Mokgalapa. We are very patient and clear that we want Mokgalapa to go even if we wait until next year,” he said.
The ANC said it has has written to speaker Mathebe imploring her to allow its motion of no confidence in Mokgalapa to go ahead or face legal action.
The EFF in Tshwane also sent a letter to Mabethe through their lawyers, explaining that their motion of no confidence in Mokgalapa does not violate the rules of council.
The speaker had informed the EFF verbally that their motion is not compliant with the City’s rules, orders and bylaws.
“We therefore write to demand that when the motion arrives, the speaker should table it for consideration by the council or we will have no choice to approach the court on an urgent basis and will request the court to order the speaker to pay personal costs,” the lawyer’s letter read.
