ANC kicks out mayor
THE ANC in KZN has dismissed Pongola Mayor, Winnie Nhlabathi.
The announcement was made by ANC Provincial Secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli, on Tuesday during a media briefing in Durban.
The decision to expel Nhlabathi from her position was taken by the ANC Provincial Executive Committee ( PEC) last Friday and Nhlabathi was informed the next day.
‘ The change was informed by our determination to strengthen the leadership of the ANC and to speed up service delivery to the people.
‘ We decided to recall the Pongola mayor and will convene a special meeting within the next few days to fill the vacancy,’ Ntuli said.
Nhlabathi confirmed she received a phone call from Ntuli on Saturday, informing her about the decision.
‘ Ntuli did not divulge any reasons, but I decided to comply with the request to resign.
‘ I am not aggrieved about this development because I understand the culture and procedures of the ANC. I was deployed by the party and it is the party that ordered me to vacate my position,’ Nhlabathi said.
‘ Our assessment revealed working challenges between the mayor and the ANC caucus in the Pongola municipality, hindering service delivery,’ said KZN ANC spokesperson, Nhlakanipho Ntombela.
National Freedom Party ( NFP) Secretary General, Canaan Mdletshe, commended the ANC for removing Nhlabathi from office.
‘ Nhlabathi is currently facing serious charges of assault.
‘ But we want to warn the ANC against recycling hotheads and factory- faults. We do not want to hear that Nhlabathi has been redeployed to any public office in future.’