ANC recalls North West mayor

2009-08-19 21:27

Johannesburg - The ANC has recalled the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality executive mayor, Themba Gwabeni.

Saki Mofokeng, a member of the party's provincial task team, said on Wednesday that Gwabeni was recalled, and that his membership had been suspended.

Gwabeni would appear before a disciplinary committee, said Mofokeng.

This was after the party intervened in the municipality because of problems in delivery services, placing it under the care of an administrator - reportedly Mangaung municipal manager Mojalefo Matlole.

Gwabeni then challenged the appointment of the administrator by taking government to court, in his capacity as the mayor.

Ill-discipline

He did not consult the party ahead of pursuing the legal route, Mofokeng said.

"He decided to use the position given to him by the ANC to fight the party's decision in court.

"This was a political decision. You can't fight a political decision in court. This was an act of misconduct, an act of ill-discipline," Mofokeng said.

He said Gwabeni was free to pursue the matter as a citizen, and not as the mayor, if he chose to do so.

The ANC's national working committee earlier this month appointed teams to tackle the challenges facing the party in the province.

This was after the national executive committee, the party's highest decision-making body, announced the disbanding of the North West provincial executive committee.

Party secretary general Gwede Mantashe cited patronage and factionalism as two key challenges for the party in the province.
 

- SAPA