The municipal spokesperson, Pius Batsile, confirms to OFM News that Mayor Daniel Buthelezi was indeed reinstated following a High Court order. 

The council called for a special sitting on Thursday to deliberate on this court order which instructed them to reinstate Buthelezi immediately, effective from 31 December 2020. This after on 10 December 2020 the council voted to oust Buthelezi during a special council sitting, with ANC members also voting with opposition parties. 

Batsile earlier said he has no clue of any reasons brought forward by members of the council which compelled them to remove Buthelezi.

The aggrieved mayor, following his removal, requested the High Court to overturn the decision. He was victorious with the court issuing an order that he must be reinstated immediately. Buthelezi is one of the Troika members, which includes council speakers and chief whips in the province who were instructed by the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) to step down. 

In September 2020, the ANC IPC's Kenny Morolong told OFM News that the ANC decided to recall these members after it had identified the collapse of service delivery, infighting, and municipal leaders relegating their authority to gangsters who he alleges are now in control of these municipalities.

OFM News