Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

The ANC in the Vhembe district of Limpopo yesterday welcomed the dismissal of Irene Mutsila, former mayor of the Vhembe district municipality.

This follows a decision by the municipal council on Wednesday to fire Mutsila on allegations of corruption.

Mutsila, who was appointed to the position after last year's local government elections, was found guilty of gross irregularities in the appointment of Joseph Silinda as municipal manager.

Silinda only served two weeks before the council overturned his appointment.

He has challenged his dismissal.

Mutsila has been replaced by Philemon Mdaka, regional ANC chairman.

Paul Mainganye, ANC regional secretary in Vhembe, said yesterday they viewed Mutsila's dismissal as the beginning of a process to return the council to normality.

"As the ANC, we welcome the decision taken by the council and believe things will be back to normal now," said Mainganye.

"Actually, we have never doubted the correctness of the decision," he said.

Mutsila appointed Silinda in May, under controversial circumstances and without the council's knowledge.

In doing so, she disregarded council policy, which stipulates that appointments of senior officials should be done with the full knowledge of council.

Suzan Sibiya, the council's speaker, said at the time they were surprised to see Silinda's appointment letter dated May 15. The council declared the appointment null and void, resulting in Silinda's appointment being revoked on May 31.

He was demoted back to his original position of head of the finance portfolio in the mayoral committee.