MEDIA RELEASE
2025-03-18
SUMMARY: The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) welcomes the election of its Councillor, Daniel Mampeule, as Speaker of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. The Party views this development as a decisive step in stabilising a municipality that has suffered prolonged governance failure, political infighting and service delivery collapse, and emphasises that the true measure of this new leadership, particularly in the period leading up to the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections, will be delivery to the working class and communities.
The Thabazimbi Local Municipality council convened a special sitting on 17 March 2026, resulting in the removal of the previous Mayor and Speaker through motions of no confidence and the election of new leadership. The Thabazimbi Local Municipality is located in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province. The sitting forms part of ongoing efforts to re-establish stability and functional governance following a period of disruption, in a context where municipalities are entering an election cycle ahead of the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
In that sitting, Labour Party Councillor Daniel Mampeule was elected as Speaker of Council, while Councillor Andries Tshukudu of the African National Congress (ANC) was elected as Mayor. The reconstitution of leadership reflects a shift within council following changes brought about by the December 2024 by-elections, which reset governance in the municipality ahead of the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
The council sitting followed a period of sustained political instability in the municipality, during which multiple leadership changes, disputes regarding council authority, and governance challenges affected the functioning of council and its administrative structures. These conditions contributed to uncertainty in decision-making processes and weakened institutional coordination at a time when municipalities are expected to demonstrate stability and accountability in the lead-up to the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
“This is a significant moment, but it must not be misunderstood”, said Joseph Mathunjwa, interim President of the Labour Party. “Thabazimbi has a history of instability and ineffective local government. What we are seeing now must be the beginning of reconstruction, not another cycle of political reshuffling”, he added.
For several years leading up to the dissolution of council in 2024, the municipality experienced contested leadership processes and prolonged political disputes. At various points, competing claims to authority resulted in parallel structures and interruptions in administrative continuity, affecting the municipality’s ability to operate consistently within its legislative and governance framework, particularly in delivering services to residents.
During this period, the municipality recorded challenges relating to service delivery, financial obligations to bulk service providers, and delays in administrative processes. These challenges were accompanied by broader concerns regarding governance, compliance, and the effective implementation of council decisions, which remain central issues as municipalities move closer to the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
“You cannot separate politics from the conditions people are living under”, Mathunjwa said. “When governance collapses, it is the working class that pays the price, through poor services, unsafe environments and economic decline”, he added.
The December 2024 by-elections followed the dissolution of the municipal council in terms of provincial intervention, with the objective of restoring governance and administrative functionality. The elections resulted in a reconfigured council composition, introducing new representation and altering the balance within council structures in advance of the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
The Speaker of Council is responsible for presiding over council sittings and ensuring that proceedings are conducted in accordance with applicable legislation, rules and orders. The role includes maintaining order in council, facilitating deliberations, and ensuring that council decisions are processed within the framework of municipal governance requirements, which are essential for restoring institutional credibility.
“The Speaker is not a ceremonial position. It is the backbone of council integrity”, he said. “We expect disciplined leadership that ensures that council is not abused for factional battles, but functions in the interests of the community”, Mathunjwa added.
The newly elected leadership assumes responsibility at a time when the municipality continues to face operational and governance challenges. These include the need to stabilise administrative processes, improve service delivery, and restore confidence in the functioning of local government institutions, all of which will be closely scrutinised in the lead-up to the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections.
“The people of Thabazimbi do not need new titles. They need water, electricity, roads and dignity. That is the standard that this leadership must meet. South Africans have seen too many changes in positions without change in outcomes”, Mathunjwa added.
The Labour Party reaffirmed that it is a political vehicle for the working class and that its representatives are mandated to prioritise service delivery, accountability and ethical governance.
“This is an opportunity to demonstrate a different kind of politics, one rooted in responsibility, not power struggles”, he said. “As South Africa approaches the [2026/2027 Local Government] Elections, communities will judge leaders not by positions, but by delivery. We will play our role, but we will also hold this council accountable to the people it serves”, Mathunjwa concluded.
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