Opposition parties in the Nyandeni Local Municipality council have slammed the decision taken by the ruling ANC to recall Councillor Zamekile Nondlevu as mayor, saying the decision was purely based on the ruling party’s factional interests, rather than the interests of the people serviced by the local authority.
The decision to strip Nondlevu of his mayoral chain was taken during a special council meeting held on April 20.
He has since been replaced by Councillor Thandeka Matika, who previously served as community services portfolio head while Nondlevu was mayor.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Nyandeni municipal council said the decision was irrational and would negatively affect service delivery and bring instability within the municipality.
“As UDM we are against the decision to recall the mayor and we voted against it during the council meeting on April 20. We did so because we view this decision as nothing more that internal fights within the ruling ANC, which will ultimately cripple service delivery to citizens under the local municipality,” said UDM whip in the Nyandeni municipal council, Khayalethu Thathani.
Thathani said in the five-month period that Nondlevu served as mayor, he was doing a sterling job and they were particularly impressed with his consultative leadership during his tenure.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it was also taken aback by the decision to recall Nondlevu.
“We were taken aback by the sudden motion to recall the mayor because when we were called to the council meeting it was said that the council was to receive a briefing from Nondlevu on the process to recruit a new municipal manager,” said EFF whip in the council, Zandile Matomela.
Matomela says the EFF also did not support the motion to recall the mayor as they could not find fault with him during his tenure.
Nyandeni Local Municipality council speaker, Mcebisi Mthobela, said the decision to recall Nondlevu as mayor was due to his unilateral decision to block the interviews of candidates for the municipal manager position, which were supposed to take place on March 31.
“Towards the end of February 2022, the council took a resolution to set up a panel to oversee the recruitment of a new municipal manager.
“On March 17, shortlisting for the vacancy took place and interviews were scheduled for March 31 but the council noticed that there has been no progress on interviews from that date until yesterday, April 20,” Mthobela added.
He said the municipal council called a special meeting on April 20 and requested a briefing from Nondlevu on the progress in recruiting a new municipal manager.
“It was during the council sitting that, to our surprise, the mayor told us he had stopped the whole process and the council felt undermined by this unilateral decision and decided to recall him as mayor,” Mthobela said.
Nondlevu was elected and sworn in as mayor on November 22 last year shortly after the local government elections, and his inauguration ceremony was held at Dan’s Lodge on January 27 this year.
He has since been assigned the role of portfolio councillor in the office of the mayor.
