Dr Makwarela resigns as Tshwane Mayor
Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Murunwa Makwarela, has resigned from his position with immediate effect, according to a statement released by City Manager Johann Mettler on Friday, March 10.
Makwarela had been embroiled in a dispute with the City over his sequestration order in 2016 and his assertion that he had been rehabilitated in 2018, which authorities have confirmed to be untrue.
The City Manager has written to the Gauteng Provincial Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to inform them of the casual vacancy that has occurred following Makwarela’s disqualification as a Congress of the People proportional representative (PR) councillor.
“This disqualification is in terms of Section 158(1)(c), read with Section 47(1)(c), of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Furthermore, this disqualification is also in terms of Schedule 1, Section 19(c) and (d) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998),” said Mettler.
According to the Municipal Structures Act, if a councillor elected from a party list ceases to hold office, the Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC must declare in writing the person, whose name is at the top of the applicable party list, to be elected in the vacancy.
“The Congress of the People will have to submit the necessary list for the filling of this vacancy,” said Mettler.
Makwarela was elected to the position of Speaker of Council on January 20, 2022, and as Executive Mayor of Tshwane on February 28, 2023.
In his resignation letter, Makwarela thanked the City and its people for the opportunity to serve as Executive Mayor. “It has been a privilege to serve the people of Tshwane, and I believe that I have made a positive contribution to the City during my time in office,” he said.
The City of Tshwane has yet to announce a replacement for Makwarela.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane noted the resignation of Dr Murunwa Makwarela as Tshwane City councillor and what they call the ‘ANC-EFF’s Executive Mayor.’
Cllr Jacqui Uys, DA’s Tshwane Ward Councillor says that these last few days have been surreal and have left residents of Tshwane horrified, bemused, and justifiably confused.
“The immediate task now before Council is the election of a new Speaker, followed by the election of a new Executive. Residents of Tshwane deserve a constructive, competent, solvent, and honest Executive Mayor and city government,” Uys said.
The DA has called for Cllr Cilliers Brink to take the Mayoral seat and be supported by the multiparty coalition.