Thanduxolo Khalipha, executive mayor of Matjhabeng, has been forced to step aside.
This was enforced by the provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC, following recommendations by the Lejweleputswa Regional Executive Committee and the Youth League.
In a
statement issued this week, the PEC resolved that Khalipha should step aside as
the executive mayor of Matjhabeng local municipality. The statement further
reads that the PEC officials will announce the name of the person who will act
as the executive mayor while Khalipha is attending to his cases.
The step
aside-rule is an internal policy of the African Nation Congress (ANC) adopted
in 2017 at the party’s 54th National Conference. It requires members charged
with corruption or other serious crimes to voluntarily step aside from
participating in party and government activities, or face suspension.
Khalipha is
facing a charge of common assault and two counts of crimen injuria registered
at the Welkom Police station in February 2024. He made his first appearance at
the Odendaalsrus magistrate court on Friday, 24 May and the case was postponed
for Thursday, 22 August. He was expected to immediately step aside after being
charged but failed to do so drawing criticisms from all corners about his
integrity to protect his organisation’s name and reputation during the case
proceeding against him.
In April
the Democratic Alliance laid a formal complaint to the Speaker Bheki Stofile
and the municipal manager Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo against the executive mayor
Thanduxolo Khalipha for breaching the Code of Conduct of Councillors section
2(b) as well as the Systems Act, act 32 of 2000 Schedule 1 section 2 (b);
stipulated as follows: A Councillor must; (b) at all times act in the best
interest of the municipality and in such a way that the credibility and
integrity of the municipality are not compromised.
The South
African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Free State had also criticise
the ANC provincial leadership for protecting Khalipha amidst an assault case
against him.
Khalipha is
facing another case of common assault and intimidation. David Ntsuku alleges
that the executive mayor of Matjhabeng pointed the finger at his forehead and
chest and further threatened to get people to kill him if he did not make
people respect him as the executive mayor. The matter is before the prosecution
to finalise.
Vista can
confirm that there is a conviction against executive mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha
and municipal manager Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo for unlawful litigation against a
resident Joseph Ndayi without Council resolution. The pair were found guilty by
the Free State High Court on 10 November 2023 for the civil contempt of court.
They were sentenced to 30 days imprisonment which they appealed. The pending
appeal does not take away the fact that the two have criminal records against
their names, which only prohibits the execution of the sentencing until the
appeal is finalised. The Matjhabeng Council is not precluded from taking steps
against the two using its internal policies.
Maxi
Badenhorst of the DA says, the DA has taken note of the step-aside rule that
the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC has applied to the Executive
Mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha, and that the PEC will announce the
name of the person who will act as the executive mayor. Meanwhile, the office
of the mayor has informed the DA office in Matjhabeng that councilor and member
of the Mayoral Committee, Sabata Moshoeu, will act as Mayor during Khalipha’s
absence. However, this has been questioned by councilor Piet Botha in a
letter to the Speaker, Councilor Bheke Stofile, and the Municipal Manager,
Lonwabo Ngoqu, as it is against the rules and orders of the Matjhabeng Council.
Only the Council can grant special leave to the mayor, and the Council must
also appoint the acting Mayor.
Badenhorst
said the DA welcomes the steps taken against the mayor as it is long overdue
after several irregularities over the past 32 months since his inauguration.
