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Government takes over city

Mbombela municipality mayor Justice Nsibande. Pic. Andrew Hlongwane. © Sowetan.
Mbombela municipality mayor Justice Nsibande. Pic. Andrew Hlongwane. © Sowetan.

Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Mpumalanga's Mbombela municipality has been taken over by the provincial government - effectively removing the mayor and his manager from office.

The provincial government stripped the mayor, Justice Nsibande, pictured, and municipal manager, Jimmy Mohlala, of their executive powers on Wednesday and placed the municipality under curatorship.

Mohlala has been placed on a three-month suspension while claims of mismanagement are investigated.

"As of today, the department of local government and housing assumes full responsibility over Mbombela," MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini said on Wednesday, adding that the administrator and her team would assume their duties immediately.

Mashego-Dlamini said the decision to place the municipality under curatorship followed allegations of mismanagement and procurement irregularities.

She said political leadership was mired in infighting, which affected the municipality's administration.

Former mayor of KwaZulu-Natal's Ugu District municipality, Khanyisile Mpungose, has been installed as the curator, to be assisted by Dumisane Shipalane and Meshack Nkosi.

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