MIDDELBURG – Steve Tshwete Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela survived a third motion of no-confidence planned against him at the municipal council chamber on Friday, 17 May 2024. The meeting collapsed following disruptions from African National Congress (ANC) members who did not want Mathunyane to chair the meeting. They also enquired whether the meeting was a continuation of the previous one or a new meeting. The unruly members closed in on Mathunyane and grabbed the microphone, preventing him from speaking. The members continued with the disruptive behaviour, singing and chanting slogans in the presence of law enforcement and security officers.
Masilela spoke to the Highveld Chronicle shortly after the incident. “The speaker displayed arrogance when he prevented councillors from asking whether the meeting was a continuation of the last one or a new meeting,” he said. “We believe this meeting is not a new one because there was no notice and they used the same speakers as on Monday when I was not there.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member Joseph Ngubeni said the ANC’s behaviour shows they will try everything they can to cling to power. “By hook or by crook, the ANC wants to remain in power,” he said. “The speaker is in charge of council; therefore, he has the right to chair, not the municipal manager.”
The motion was the second tabled in a week against Masilela for allegations of frail leadership and corruption during his tenure. Masilela survived the motion on Monday, May 13, by a whisker after hours of debate, when Speaker Thato Mathunyane ruled to postpone the matter as Masilela had filed a sick note. “To allow the executive mayor to respond to the allegations brought before him,” Mathunyane said on Monday.
“I know that the rules of order give council the right to proceed, but remember we are governed by the law that says the other side of the story must be heard. I give the ruling on the basis that we will reconvene and give the executive mayor an opportunity to respond to the allegations given to him on a vote of no-confidence.”
The motion, filed by the Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front citing weak leadership in the executive mayor, was supported by the DA, EFF, Freedom Front Plus, and the Independent Candidate Reverend Thomas Mpye (former council speaker).
Masilela became executive mayor of the hung council in 2021 after the local government elections held in November. Workers prevented him from working from his office after the death of municipal employee Tshepo Maseko following a shooting incident at the municipal premises on August 17, 2022.
