The executive mayor of the Moqhaka local municipality has been asked by the African National Congress (ANC) to submit his immediate resignation.
On Monday, 8 September, Executive Mayor Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane of the Moqhaka municipality was instructed by the ANC Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng to resign with immediate effect, which Mokatsane did not do.
His immediate suspension is apparently due to various irregularities. Therefore, the Provincial Working Committee (PWC), as empowered by rule 25.60, has decided to summarily suspend Mokatsane’s ANC membership pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
According to Chris Dalton, DA councillor of Moqhaka Municipality, the DA has highlighted the critical governance challenges in the Moqhaka municipality, signalling potential leadership transformation that could reshape local administrative effectiveness. The party has raised serious concerns about executive mayor Mokatsane’s leadership, pointing to systemic failures that demand immediate intervention.
Dalton says the municipality is wrestling with substantial operational obstacles, including astronomical Eskom debt exceeding R1.7 billion, persistent unfunded budget constraints, widespread financial misconduct and critical job vacancies undermining municipal functionality.
The DA, alongside opposition parties, has formally challenged Mokatsane through multiple motions of no confidence, citing unprofessional and disrespectful conduct, ineffective municipal problem resolution and controversial statements that demonstrate leadership incompetence.
“Particularly alarming was Mokatsane’s use of derogatory language, which sparked widespread public criticism and exposed deeper systemic leadership failures,” says Dalton.
This potential leadership change represents part of a larger Free State municipal leadership restructuring, with six mayors potentially facing removal due to governance inadequacies. The DA says it views this as a critical opportunity to introduce competent, accountable leadership committed to transparent municipal management.
