The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) condemns the ANC-led Council’s continued misuse of council processes to fight internal ANC factional battles, while residents continue to suffer daily service delivery failures and collapsing infrastructure.
This follows the removal today of the ANC Mayor, Gerson Molapisane, through a motion of no confidence, and his replacement by ANC cadre and former Mopani District spokesperson, Odas Ngobeni — a mere six months before the municipal elections.
What residents have witnessed is not a principled shift in conscience by ANC councillors, but a factional power move that once again exposes the instability caused by the ANC in Greater Tzaneen.
Even more concerning are media reports alleging that Molapisane was targeted because he refused to allow municipal funds to be used for ANC party-political purposes. If true, this would represent a serious abuse of public trust and would confirm that ANC factional battles are being placed above the service-delivery needs of Greater Tzaneen residents.
The ANC’s notice of motion of no confidence in the former Mayor failed to set out clearly and rationally why they sought to remove their own mayor from office.
The DA is also concerned that the council meeting was reportedly not fully broadcast on social media platforms, further limiting transparency and the public’s access to deliberations on matters before council.
While the ANC engages in petty political squabbles, it is the people of Greater Tzaneen who suffer. The municipality is increasingly characterised by deteriorating roads, dysfunctional streetlights, evening water shedding and dilapidated infrastructure — all of which reflect the ANC’s lack of political will to place residents first.
Council processes should not be abused as a battleground for ANC internal disputes. The residents of Greater Tzaneen deserve a municipality focused on fixing roads, water, sanitation, waste removal and basic services — not one consumed by nefarious factional power struggles and control over municipal resources.
The DA will not be drawn into ANC factional battles disguised as legitimate council proceedings, and we will not tolerate political horse-trading for positions at the expense of residents.
The DA remains committed to exposing any unlawful conduct, exercising our oversight role, and holding those responsible for the neglect and failure of service delivery accountable.
The residents of Greater Tzaneen deserve a clean, accountable and service-delivery-focused government. They have an opportunity to reject this failing and self-serving ANC-led administration in the November municipal elections and vote for the DA to get Greater Tzaneen working again.
The DA further calls on residents of Greater Tzaneen to register to vote during the voter registration weekend on 21 and 22 June 2026. You must be registered to vote for change.