Mayor axed after protests

The ANC in the Eastern Cape has fired embattled Amahlathi municipality mayor Pateka Qaba following protests in Stutterheim.

The party has acceded to the demands of the protesting community and is in the process of dissolving the mayoral committee of the troubled municipality.

The protests began in mid-October when the angry, jobless youths took to the streets, accusing Amahlathi local municipality officials of nepotism and offering jobs for sex or money.

They also claimed Qaba was not a resident of Amahlathi and accused her of employing her friends.

Protesters torched a clinic and buildings that housed the Amathole and Amahlathi municipalities.

Stutterheim is situated along the N6, which connects East London and Johannesburg. Protesters pelted cars driving along N6. Police say more than 30 people were arrested.

ANC Eastern Cape provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said the party reached a decision to remove the mayor after engagements with communities.

“We have been consulting our people and after they had expressed their dissatisfaction with the mayor and its executive, we have taken a decision to reconfigure things. We are still consulting with regard to candidates that will take over from the outgoing executive,” said Ngcukayitobi. – ANA