NKANGALA – The ANC in Nkangala region said utterances made by former Steve Tshwete Mayor Mike Masina that they were micromanaging him, were attributes of resentment.
“He is a bitter man… and we understand where that bitterness comes from,” ANC spokesperson in Nkangala, Sello Matshoga, said. “Masina is angry because he was recalled…he believed that the municipality was doing very well under his leadership and unfortunately it was not,” he said.
A week ago the former Mayor of Steve Tshwete Municipality, Mike Masina, drew first blood by hanging in public what may be considered as dirty linen of the party’s regional executive committee (REC). Masina accused the REC of micromanagement when he was still the mayor and said he refused to abide by its instructions he considered, “unlawful.”
“I was defiant to such instructions,” Masina said. “That is precisely the reason they recalled me,” he said.
However, Matshoga said they sacked the regular SAFM caller and staunch follower of legendary reggae musician, Peter Tosh, because the municipality was dysfunctional. “The troika was no longer pulling together. We needed a municipality that is stable, that is all the deployees of the organisation should pull together…but under his leadership they were not,” Matshoga said.
“Now we are happy the troika is pulling together in Steve Tshwete,” he said. Matshoga added that though Masina’s actions amount to ill-discipline, he may not be subjected to the party’s internal disciplinary procedures. “From where I am sitting, he did not contravene any constitution of the ANC or any clause within the constitution.
“He has the right to say his view but we understand he is a bitter man. And as the organisation, we are moving forward prioritising the people of Steve Tshwete in terms of making sure they continue to get the services they are paying for, and comrade Tsietsi is doing very well as the mayor,” Matshoga said.
