The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Minister of Cooperative Governance, Velenkosini Hlabisa, to urgently intervene in Mpumalanga and compel the provincial government to declare vacancies in Wards 14 and 26, where prolonged councillor absences have resulted in the near collapse of service delivery.
In Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Ward 14 Councillor Jabu Zwane resigned on 28 May 2025, submitting his resignation to the Municipal Manager. Despite this formal step and Zwane’s public criticism of the ANC’s governance, the resignation has not been officially acknowledged, raising concerns that political considerations are delaying the declaration of a vacancy.
In eMalahleni Local Municipality, Ward 26 Councillor BT Twala has been absent and inactive for over a year and two months. The council has suspended his salary, yet no explanation for his disappearance has been made public, nor has a vacancy been declared. Credible reports suggest his absence is linked to politically sensitive matters within the ANC.
The Municipal Structures Act is clear: when a councillor resigns, is incapacitated, missing, expelled, or deceased, a vacancy must be declared by the council in consultation with the relevant MEC. A by-election must then be held within 90 days to restore representation for affected residents.
However, both the ANC-led Mpumalanga Government and MEC for COGTA, Speedy Mashilo, have failed to fulfil this legal obligation. As a result, communities in these wards continue to suffer from non-functional ward representation, poor governance, and a collapse in basic service delivery.
The DA demands:
- The immediate declaration of vacancies in both wards,
- Compliance with the Municipal Structures Act,
- The scheduling of by-elections without political delay.
We will escalate this matter to Minister Hlabisa through our parliamentary representatives to ensure that the people of Wards 14 and 26 are no longer denied their democratic right to representation and service delivery.
The DA remains committed to upholding the rule of law and standing up for residents whose constitutional rights are being neglected by a government prioritising political preservation over public interest.