Lentswe, Klerksdorp – Executive Mayor Cllr James Tsolela has resigned. The Matlosana Council accepted his resignation on Tuesday June 25 during a special council meeting to adopt the budget. The Acting Municipal Manager, Baganne Choche, has been mandated to declare the vacancy of the Executive Mayor in Council in terms of the Electoral Regulations and the Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998 and inform the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in writing.
In terms of legislation, the Council now has 14 days to appoint a new mayor. The DA’s Cllr Johannes le Grange said the resignation of Tsolela impacts the whole council, because with his resignation comes the collapse of the Mayoral Committee. “We’ve heard there are internal meetings within the ANC to get an appropriate candidate for the position of Mayor. We cannot say that we are sorry to see Cllr Tsolela vacate the mayor’s office.’’
Tsolela is still a councillor in the municipality.
His resignation comes after a time of uncertainty within the municipality’s troika. The CFO is on a 90 day suspension and the MM is on sick leave, but a suspension is imminent upon her return to office, Klerksdorp Record was told. Weeks before the national election, a letter written by Fikile Mbalula was circulated on social media instructing the mayor to resign. He refused and then suddenly left on sick leave before returning to his office early in June. Serious allegations against the mayor also surfaced in this time after the MM’s arrest.
Despite all of this, Tsolela maintains his innocence and says his resignation is not admittance to the allegations he is facing.
Le Grange said rumours are that someone from “outside’’ are groomed for the position of Matlosana’s new mayor. “We will know soon enough.’’
