The outgoing mayor, who is also a member of the Patriotic Alliance in Ditsobotla, Elizabeth Lethoko, tendered her resignation in writing to the speaker, Fikile Alfred Jakeni, following the appointment of the administrator as the new municipal manager. 

According to the statement issued by the party, Lethoko stated that the appointment of a new municipal manager was a surprise, tabled after the conclusion of all items on the agenda for the council on Monday.  

Lethoko also mentioned to the speaker that the ANC did not raise the matter with her or the Patriotic Alliance's president, who was present all day in the Ditsobotla council sitting for such important coalition discussions.

She further stated that the EFF was correct to protest against the tabling of the matter.

“The manner in which this was performed was duplicitous in the extreme and was clearly intended to sidestep proper council procedures. The public protector will find against this administration if we go about conducting our appointments in such an irregular fashion. My party, the Patriotic Alliance, will not be associated with underhanded tactics, which one can only presume are intended to cover up corruption in Ditsobotla. 

"This coalition government should not exist to protect wrongdoers from going to jail. If they have a case to answer for, they should be prosecuted and serve their sentences like the law-defying criminals they are,” she added.

Lethoko further said that she was looking forward to an opportunity to restore the Ditsobotla Municipality from the dire state that it is currently in, however, she is concerned about the direction that it is taking.

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