African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Gwede Mantashe has warned councillors in Kimberley that if they refuse to endorse the provincial leadership’s decision to remove the mayor of the Northern Cape capital they could be redeployed elsewhere.
The provincial executive committee (PEC) took a decision in February to remove Patrick Lenyibi, mayor of the Sol Plaatje municipality, but at a recent council meeting where a motion of no confidence in Lenyibi was tabled, only seven of 40 ANC councillors voted in favour.
Lenyibi, who has been running the municipality since 2003, has wide-ranging popular support. He refused to budge when the provincial leadership insisted he reinstate an employee found guilty of abusing his authority.
Patrick Mabilo, municipal director for social services and a PEC member, was found guilty by an internal disciplinary panel after he allegedly threatened security guards at a local park who refused to allow him and his friends in for free.
A meeting of the provincial leadership chaired by John Block, the former provincial minister of transport, insisted that Mabilo had to be reinstated, despite Lenyibi’s insistence that any reinstatement would be ”illegal” because it would reverse a decision made after an extensive disciplinary and legal process.
Lenyibi also blocked a bid by Block’s company to buy land close to Kimberley’s Big Hole for residential and business development, an insider told the Mail & Guardian. The municipality wants to develop tourism in the area.
In 2004, Block lost his job as provincial minister after allegations of corruption, but he was cleared of all wrongdoing after a forensic audit.
This week, Mantashe confirmed the decision by the PEC to remove Lenyibi. A group of disgruntled ANC members marched to Luthuli House on Monday to complain to Mantashe, who recommended they raise their concerns at a regional general council due to be held on Sunday.
”I don’t think there is a stalemate in the province. The mayor has accepted the decision [to be removed] and the councillors have to remember they are deployees as well,” said Mantashe.
Another municipal council meeting was scheduled for Friday.