EFF pushes for speaker role in Steve Tshwete power-sharing deal

ANC Nkangala secretary says EFF’s political demands threaten stability in local governance

MIDDELBURG – The EFF has cornered the ANC to deliver on its promise to reward them with two other positions in the Steve Tshwete municipality.

The red berets said this is a promise contained in a deal they struck with the ANC at hung municipalities in the province.

Three municipalities including Steve Tshwete, Lekwa and Goven Mbeki were left hung after the ANC lost support in the 2021 local government elections.

A month ago mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela reshuffled his cabinet to include EFF chief whip, Joseph Ngubeni, as MMC of public safety in Steve Tshwete.

Understandably, the EFF returned the favour in Lekwa by helping the ANC back in the mayoral seat following a motion of no confidence, passed on October 31, against former mayor Delani Thabethe of Lekwa Community Forum (LCF).

EFF councillor Dumisani Msibi was elected to be council speaker while Phindile Mahlaba, also EFF councillor, was retained as member of mayoral committee (MMC) of corporate services.

Apparently the EFF is desiring the same arrangement in Steve Tshwete council.

They are now gunning for the speaker’s position, currently occupied by Thato Mathunyane of the Middelbug and Hendrina Residents Front (MHRF).  

As if that is not enough, they also want another position in the mayoral committee. In August this year, the EFF intended to submit a motion of no confidence to remove Mathunyane however the motion could not succeed as it failed to get the 50 percent plus one signatures to pass through.

“The ANC was supposed to support us with their signatures, instead they gave us that position of public safety,” said Collen Sedibe, EFF provincial leader.

“And that was not the agreement.”

He continued, “The agreement is that we are going to take the speaker position plus a minimum of 2 MMCs per municipality in all the 3 hung municipalities.”

Sedibe further said the motion will be resubmitted in no time.  “This needs to happen soon. The ANC needs to honour the agreement. They are delaying us.”

ANC Nkangala secretary, Sello Matshoga, said the EFF is putting them in a difficult position because they have agreed with the DA, EFF’s sworn enemies, not to cause instability in the council by chop and change all the time.

“We agreed we are not going to remove any person, the status quo should remain,” he said.

“But if the EFF comes back and say we are going to support you in Lekwa but, at the same time, there is an outstanding issue of Steve Tshwete; want us to go back to the table and discuss the matter.”

Matshoga also clarified that such engagements are being handled by the provincial structure. “After that, they will brief the region later on. We may reopen the submissions once they agree,” he said.