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Mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma challenged to explain how R3 million for theatre upgrades disappeared and R160 000 spent on four employees to upgrade their drivers’ licences.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The hung Govan Mbeki local municipality’s mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma’s position hangs in the balance as the opposition wages a campaign to oust him while his disenchanted comrades describe the municipality as a “base of corruption” under his leadership.

Zuma rose to the position in the Secunda-based municipality with the support of the EFF following the ANC’s failure in the 2021 local government elections to win outrightly. The ANC received 38.6% of the votes.

Govan Mbeki joined the Steve Tshwete municipality in Middelburg where the ANC got 36.8% and Lekwa in Standerton (42%) where the ANC also lost its traditional majority for the first time.

ANC members with insight into issues told The People’s Eye that it seemed Zuma and the party’s regional and provincial leadership were not concerned that the ANC may lose power completely in Govan Mbeki in 2026 by watching corrupt activities flourish.

At the root of Zuma’s woes is demands for explanation on the disappearance of R3million, which was earmarked for theatre upgrades and R160 000 that was spent on four employees to upgrade their drivers’ licences.

The employees needed to upgrade their licences to Code 14 when the municipality bought trucks to patch roads, and ended up paying R40 000 per employee.

The DA has tabled of no confidence against Zuma. The motion will be on January 30.

The party further said that it had problems with the ever-increasing Eskom debt of R5million. It also said that it had an issue with senior managers’ salaries not being compliant with the remuneration framework and the municipality misleading residents about the cause of water shortages. 

“Our motion comes after the mayor failed to show leadership and rise above factionalism when it mattered the most.  It must be noted that currently, Zuma has turned Govan Mbeki into the worst performing ANC-led municipality in the province,” said DA’s caucus leader in Govan Mbeki, Desire Erasmus.

“The executive mayor’s relaxed approach in dealing with these issues and other matters  has eroded trust and confidence in his ability to lead effectively; hence the DA is calling for the council to support the motion,” she added.  

“Govan Mbeki is a base of corruption,” said an ANC councillor. “There are just too many incidents that need attention.”