MEDIA RELEASE
2025-03-05
SUMMARY: The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) has formally distanced itself from the purported termination of the Thabazimbi Municipal Manager following reports that the decision was allegedly taken without a properly convened council meeting. The Party states that municipal governance must adhere strictly to lawful council processes and cannot be conducted through irregular or opaque procedures that undermine democratic accountability.
The Labour Party has noted with serious concern the reported termination of the Municipal Manager of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, allegedly with immediate effect from 28 February 2026.
Information received from councillors indicates that the decision was purportedly based on a resolution of the municipal council allegedly taken on 28 February 2026. However, Labour Party councillors confirm that no properly constituted council meeting took place on that date and that they were not party to any such decision.
According to reports provided to the Labour Party’s provincial leadership, a council meeting had initially been scheduled for 27 February 2026 at 10:00 but was repeatedly postponed during the course of the day. The meeting was first moved to 13:00 and later to 16:00 but ultimately failed to proceed after the Executive Committee reportedly did not meet or form quorum, which prevented the council from legally continuing its proceedings.
Subsequently, councillors were informed that a council meeting would take place virtually on 28 February 2026 at 13:00. However, councillors report that no meeting link was provided and that the meeting did not take place.
Despite this, a letter reportedly issued from the Mayor’s office later stated that the Municipal Manager’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect on the basis of a council resolution allegedly adopted on that same day.
“The Labour Party cannot associate itself with decisions that appear to have been taken outside of properly convened council processes”, said interim Deputy National Chairperson Phuthuma Manyathi. “Municipal governance is not conducted through letters issued after the fact. Decisions affecting senior municipal appointments must be taken transparently by a lawfully convened council meeting in which all councillors are properly notified and able to participate”, he added.
The Thabazimbi municipal council consists of 23 councillors representing 12 wards and proportional representation seats drawn from several political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), the Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party), uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the Thabazimbi Residents Association (TRA).
“If there was no properly convened council meeting, then there could not have been a lawful council resolution”, Manyathi said. “Any attempt to portray such a decision as the will of council raises serious governance concerns”, he further added.
The Labour Party emphasises that municipal appointments and dismissals are matters that must be handled strictly in accordance with applicable municipal governance legislation and the lawful procedures of council. Any deviation from these processes risks undermining the rule of law and public confidence in local government.
The Labour Party has therefore formally distanced itself from the reported decision and has indicated that its councillors were not involved in any meeting or vote relating to the termination of the Municipal Manager.
“The people of Thabazimbi deserve a municipality that operates within the law and not through procedural shortcuts”, Manyathi said. “Where irregularities occur, they must be corrected openly and transparently so that the integrity of municipal governance is preserved”, Manyathi concluded.
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