Unhappy minority parties in the Ekurhuleni council have launched a motion of no confidence against Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, accusing him of financial mismanagement, neglect of council directives, and leadership failures that have worsened the state of the city.
The motion, spearheaded by the Independent Citizen Movement (ICM), details several serious allegations against Xhakaza, including failure to fulfill his statutory obligations and the inability to lead effectively. According to the ICM, the mayor has been responsible for a series of failures, including unreasonable delays in the approval of the city’s budget, poor expenditure of conditional grants, and non-payment of service providers, all of which have severely impacted the city’s governance and service delivery.
Moreover, Xhakaza allegedly took four international trips within just six months of taking office, without properly informing the council or reporting back to them upon his return. The mayor also neglected to appoint an acting mayor in his absence, which the ICM claims is indicative of his lack of leadership and responsibility.
The motion has found support from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), which backs the call for Xhakaza’s removal. The motion will be tabled in council this month, where it will be debated and voted on.
ICM argues that Ekurhuleni requires a mayor who is capable of providing visionary leadership, prioritizing good governance, financial prudence, and strategic planning to guide the city toward sustainable growth and development. The party expressed concern over the lack of leadership under Xhakaza, which has left the city in a state of financial turmoil and poor public service.
This latest motion comes just a week after the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) withdrew its own motion of no confidence against the speaker of the council, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, just before it could be debated. The IFP claimed they needed more time to consult with other parties before moving forward.
ICM has called for an extraordinary council meeting to be convened within seven days, in order to elect a new mayor who can restore the city’s leadership and improve its governance.
Attempts to reach Mayor Xhakaza and his party, the African National Congress (ANC), for comment on the matter have not yet been successful.
With tensions mounting in the Ekurhuleni council, it remains to be seen whether Xhakaza will survive the growing calls for his removal or if the city will be forced to undergo a significant leadership change.
