On Saturday, 3 August, an unequivocal decision was passed by the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC to leave no doubt whatsoever as to the fate of Matjhabeng’s executive mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha.
He must immediately step aside. Failure to do so will see him expelled from the ANC.
Last week, Vista reported that Khalipha was the first ANC member in the party’s history to disobey a step-aside command.
In recent history, Ace Magashule and Jacob Zuma were ordered to step-aside, and did so.
Two weeks ago the provincial executive committee (PEC) ruled he must step aside, and gave him the marching orders. It is reported that Khalipha defied this order and put himself on sick leave. He also appointed his own acting mayor.
On Saturday, in Pretoria, the NEC was decisive and clear in its decision: Khalipha must go.
This week, the PEC and regional executive committee (REC) will meet in Welkom to decide which of the three names on the table will be Matjhabeng’s new executive mayor.
An insider told Vistathat the current situation in Matjhabeng demonstrates that words without action, empty rhetoric, hyperbole, lack of knowledge, and a lack of qualifications are a recipe for disaster.
He says that since Khalipha took over as the political head in November 2021, the municipality has collapsed and is dysfunctional, with service delivery almost non-existent.
According to another source in the executive, Khalipha’s autocratic leadership style is the cause for the collapse.
“The man makes unilateral decisions without much regard for subordinates, including key stakeholders like the union and the council.
“He is also known to insult and humiliate managers who are not accountable to him, hence the low morale of the general staff. The municipal manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo, has lost the confidence of the staff because he allowed Khalipha to interfere with his administration.”
