The African National Congress has initiated steps to remove Thanduxolo Khalipha as Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, following a formal request by the party’s Regional Executive Committee in Lejweluputswa, Free State, to reconfigure the municipality’s leadership “Troika”—the mayor, speaker, and chief whip.
The regional body expressed deep concern over deteriorating governance standards and a sharp decline in service delivery within the municipality. In a statement, the committee highlighted a collapse of basic services, severe financial mismanagement, and a lack of consequence management under Khalipha’s tenure.
The move comes after ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that Khalipha would face internal disciplinary proceedings for bringing the party into disrepute. Khalipha, who was convicted and sentenced in December 2024 for assaulting his bodyguard, is one of five senior ANC members subject to disciplinary action.
According to the Regional Executive Committee, Khalipha failed to appear at a critical engagement convened to address governance challenges in Matjhabeng and did not offer an apology for his absence, despite the municipality’s ongoing crisis. The committee has since resolved to forward its recommendation for leadership reconfiguration to the ANC’s national structures.
Reaction from opposition parties has been swift. A spokesperson for the Economic Freedom Fighters in the Free State characterized the ANC’s announcement as political posturing. “We know this is just a ploy to defocus the people of Matjhabeng from the poor service delivery of the ANC in this municipality,” the spokesperson said. “They are trying to use this as a form of a campaign to try and confuse our people that they taking accountability.”
A spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance in Matjhabeng stated that while the disciplinary process is welcome, it is significantly delayed. “The announcement is old news to us. We have been told that for over 2 years,” the spokesperson noted. “It will not cause any instability in council or the operations of the municipality. Instead, it will stabilize service delivery as the workforce of Matjhabeng has been advocating for his removal for over two years.”
Also named in the ANC’s disciplinary slate are Ekurhuleni Regional Secretary Jason Mkhwane and City of Johannesburg MMC Sthembiso Zungu, though further details on their respective cases have not been disclosed.
The ANC’s national leadership is now tasked with reviewing the regional committee’s recommendation, a decision that could reshape the political and administrative landscape of Matjhabeng Local Municipality.