Amahlati’s mayor quits at long last

The deeply divided ANC-led Amahlathi council will elect a new mayor, speaker and chief whip on Tuesday.

This follows the resignation of mayor Phatheka Qaba, council chief whip Xhanti Mngxaso and speaker Nokuzola Mlahleki.

The DA announced on Monday that it would support the replacement of Qaba, failing which it would consider taking legal action if the mayor was not removed on Tuesday.

Two previous meetings of the Stutterheim-based council collapsed after some ANC councillors failed to attend, an absence which DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga called sabotage.

The ANC’s Amathole officials met the Oscar Mabuyaneled top five provincial officials in Calata House on Monday to discuss names of people who could be voted into office when a special council meeting convenes on Tuesday.

Troubles started a year ago, resulting in service delivery protest in areas like Cathcart, Keiskammahoek and, later, Stutterheim and KwaMlungisi township.

ANC regional secretary Teris Ntuthu said that at the heart of the problems were “deeply seated divisions” in the council.

The ANC announced a plan to recall Qaba late in 2018, but the three councillors had remained in office.

On Wednesday, ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi instructed all three to resign. –