Standerton – The ousted mayor of the Lekwa Local Municipality in Standerton, Mpumalanga, Louis Thabethe, has been re-elected to the same position he lost a few weeks ago.
Earlier this month, Thabethe – a leader of the Lekwa Community Forum – was removed as mayor of the Lekwa Local Municipality at the behest of the DA, which had filed a no-confidence motion.
The DA subsequently called on Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Mandla Msibi to put the Lekwa Local Municipality under Administration.
However, this week the DA leadership in Mpumalanga backed Thabethe’s re-election as mayor of the Lekwa Local Municipality.
Thabethe’s re-election as mayor came soon after the DA marched in protest to the municipality officers, where they lodged complaints about poor service delivery.
The DA complained about potholes, sewer spillage, and the lack of water and electricity.
In a case of “better the devil you know” the DA capitulated and backed Thabethe for mayor rather than let the African National Congress (ANC) candidate take over the reins.
Speaking to The Bulrushes, DA provincial leader and member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Bosman Grobler, said the party decided to throw their support behind Thabethe to prevent the ANC, which has the majority in the council, from winning the election of the new mayor.
