ANC gloating as ailing DA mayor resigns

WHEN she was elected as the DA’s executive mayor of Mogale City in August, EFF and FF+ councillors burst into song and congratulated her.

Their ANC counterparts, meanwhile, sat and watched stony-faced from the opposition benches.

But after Lynn Pannall resigned with immediate effect as the first citizen of the city this week because of “ill health”, local ANC councillors celebrated. The party has accused Pannall of failing to govern the city.

She was elected after beating ANC mayoral hopeful Peace Mabe by 39 votes to 38, thanks to a coalition agreement between the DA and EFF.

DA Gauteng leader John Moodey said Pannall was enthusiastic and committed but “unfortunately ill health has forced the executive mayor to cut back on her busy schedule”.

He said it had “now reached the point where it would be detrimental to both her health and the office of the mayor for her to continue in this position”.

But ANC West Rand spokesperson Refentse Man- gope claimed Pannall had resigned because of her “dismal failure” to govern, collapsing service delivery in the city.

Mangope said Pannall’s resignation showed the inability of the DA-led coalition to govern the municipality.

“Crucially, the all-important Integrated Development Plans consultations with the people of Mogale City have still not taken place. We know for a fact that the DA have been clueless in fulfilling their governance obligations for 100 days.

“The executive under this administration could not address the community of Mogale on the recent water crisis.

“Additionally, the amateurish DA failed to present quarterly reports to the council as required by the law.”

The ANC wanted the city to convene a council meeting and elect a new mayor “who would immediately lead in stabilising the city. It is not in the best interest of our people to have incompetent leadership, and thereby fail them in delivering crucial services”.

A DA councillor who spoke to Independent Media on condition of anonymity said: “To tell you the truth, I don’t know why she resigned.”

@luyolomkentane