Mnquma’s failed coup leaders await fate
ANC councillors in Mnquma local municipality who set up a “parallel troika” in a failed attempt to oust mayor Thobeka Bikitsha will soon know their punishment.
Eastern Cape premier and ANC provincial chairman Phumulo Masualle made the announcement on Monday after visiting Umsobomvu township in Butterworth to address water scarcity in the area.
Masualle said he was yet to receive a report on the ANC deployees who tried to vote Bikitsha, speaker Zibuthe Mnqwazi and chief whip Zakhele Mnqwazi off the council.
The faction elected Tobakazi Ntanga as mayor, Zenzile Gade as speaker and Ncumisa Tandaphi as chief whip in their place. However, the ouster bid failed as the meeting that elected them had not been called by speaker Mnqwazi, as council rules state.
Rival groups supporting Bikitsha and municipal manager Sindile Tantsi clashed after Bikitsha tried to force Tantsi out of office.
“The ANC councillors being disciplined for are the things they shouldn’t have done,” said Masualle. “I’m expecting that in no time we will soon get the verdict of the disciplinary committee.
“What we wish is for council not to be disrupted by political issues. Council should do its job, which is to deliver services to the people of Mnquma.”
Masualle’s comments come in the wake of promises by fellow provincial executive committee members Oscar Mabuyane and Mlibo Qoboshiyane that action would be taken against those who tried to oust Bikitsha.
The instability in Mnquma started straight after the August elections as Bikitsha and Tantsi locked horns.
Due to the instability, projects have stalled and service providers have not been paid.
But Masualle said recent intervention by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa in Mnquma had yielded results.
“I know there was an intervention and council was restored back to working well. I don’t have a report of the council not functioning well.
“I know there was also a problem that has to do with the municipal manager and that council resolved to suspend him because of the criminal charges he is facing,” said Masualle.
Tantsi was arrested by the Hawks last month on allegations of corruption, fraud and money laundering.
The charges relate to a R10million contract awarded to Big Event Boy, a company owned by ANC supporter Sive Nombembe.
Tantsi is out on R40 000 bail and Nombembe R35 000.
Zonwabele Plata has been appointed acting Mnquma municipal manager.