The ANC in Mpumalanga expelled the mayor and speaker of Nkomazi local municipality in Malelane along with four others for defying the party. 

Former mayor Johan Mkhatshwa and speaker Siphiwe Mashele, who have been serving in the same positions in the previous administration, defied the ANC caucus in November which warned them against contesting for council positions following last year's local government elections.

Mkhatshwa and Mashele were elected to their positions against the wishes of the ANC and with the support of opposition councillors during the new council’s inaugural meeting on November 23.

Acting ANC provincial secretary, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, said the two refused to resign after they were elected and the party then instituted a disciplinary action against them and four other councillors – Mumsie Khoza, Delile Mlangeni, Vincent Nyambi and Jacob Mthethwa – who had nominated them. 

A letter dated February 22 2022 from the ANC's disciplinary committee directed to the group, found all of them guilty and expelled them. 

“Lastly, all members of the committee in attendance unanimously find these comrades guilty of all the charges preferred against them and for undermining all structures of the ANC. Their conduct must be rejected out rightly. The committee agrees that they are guilty of all charges,” read the document in parts. 

Ntshalintshali said the party was finalising the process of replacing the six fired members.

“The six have defied the organisation, Mkhatshwa didn't emerge in the mayor's interviews but he went to contest and that's a serious misconduct, defying the party that he represent in the council. We had to take them through all the processes of DC (disciplinary action) and a verdict was reached that they be expelled.

“The letters have been served to them and what's left now for the organisation is to write to the independent electoral commission to inform them that these people have been fired from the party and we shall then convene a special council sitting to elect the rightful mayor and speaker,” said Ntshalintshali. 

She said regarding the four councillors, the ANC was ready to go for by-elections in their wards. 

“Remember, for the mayor and speaker, we don't need to go for by-elections because they entered through propositional representation; we shall just remove their names from IEC and forward the rightful names. Those who are ward councillors from the four who nominated and supported the nomination, we are ready for by-elections to retain our wards,” said Ntshalintshali. 

Mkhatshwa could not be reached for comment nor did he respond to text messages sent to him. 

Mashele responded to Sowetan with a cryptic statement, saying nobody can fire her “because I joined the ANC alone”. 

“I don't know that [about being fired], but I don't think someone can fire me because I joined the ANC alone. I will check with the others if they are fired but for me no, there's no one who can fire me from the ANC,” said Mashele laughing.