The fragile coalition government in the City of Ekurhuleni has plunged into further turmoil after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) formally rejected new Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) positions and accused the mayor of governing unilaterally.
The party has issued resignation letters to Executive Mayor, declaring they are “not available” for what they describe as a “circus” orchestrated by the mayor following a cabinet reshuffle.
Tensions flared after the mayor removed two EFF MMCs without consultation and subsequently offered the party different portfolios. According to EFF National Spokesperson Thembi Msane, the party declined the new appointments immediately.
“We declined that appointment by [the mayor]. We even sent him our resignation letters last night telling him that we decline, we are not available,” Msane stated. “He took a unilateral decision to remove two of our MMCs. This comes after he removed the MMC of finance in 2024, and now he does it again without any consultation, without any reason.”
The reshuffle has also drawn criticism over its restructuring of key service delivery departments. Msane accused the mayor of consolidating Water and Sanitation, Waste, and Energy under a single MMC, a move she labeled as reckless.
“Because of the greed on the eve of elections, he is putting all these three main service delivery departments under one MMC,” Msane said. She contrasted this with the EFF’s track record in the metro, claiming that under its watch, the Water and Sanitation department was declared “water champions” and successfully commissioned reservoirs that had previously failed to deliver water to communities.
“If you bring a clown to the palace and hope it’s going to be a palace, it’s turning into a circus,” Msane added, predicting that the metro would now descend into chaos.
The interview turned to the mayor’s recent controversial history, referencing reports that placed him “at the scene” of a high-profile murder nearly two years ago. When asked how the EFF could serve under a mayor who might be a “person of interest” to police, Msane responded that the party is not law enforcement.
“We are not law enforcement. We have said the law must take its course. If the mayor is guilty, he must be investigated,” she said. “However, to answer your question, we were focused on service delivery—making sure our people do not have challenges of water, waste, or houses.”
Msane warned that the African National Congress (ANC)’s handling of the minority government in Gauteng has put the entire coalition at risk. She criticized the ANC for acting as if it governs with a majority, stressing that coalitions require negotiation.
“They are not safe in Gauteng. They are not safe anywhere where we have coalitions with them,” Msane warned. “If a motion of no confidence has to come up, the EFF will definitely ride on that.”
The departure of the EFF from the governing structure leaves the City of Ekurhuleni’s coalition on the brink, with service delivery and political stability hanging in the balance.