The Patriotic Alliance (PA) in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality stated that Elizabeth Lethoko, who was elected as the mayor by the council on Monday, tendered her resignation in writing to the speaker, Fikile Alfred Jakeni, hours after the appointment of the administrator as the new municipal manager. 

Lethoko stated that the appointment of the new municipal manager was a surprising matter which was tabled after the conclusion of all items that were on the agenda for the council on the day and the matter was also not discussed with the leadership of the PA, which is in a coalition with the ANC. 

The municipal spokesperson, Pius Batsile, says they have no knowledge of the resignation of Lethoko.

ALSO READ: Ditsobotla mayor resigns hours after election

“The speaker of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, councillor Fikile Jakeni, has just indicated that he has not formally received the resignation of the Mayor, Councillor Itumeleng Lethoko. As the municipality, we hear from the media that the mayor resigned late last night, after being elected as the Mayor of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality. However, I’m still waiting for the directive from the office of the speaker. At this point, the municipality cannot confirm or disagree with the matter,” Batsile added.

ALSO READ: Troubled North West municipal council dissolved

On Thursday 15 September 2022, the North West provincial government dissolved the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipal Council. The municipality had two mayors and two municipal managers at loggerheads.

In February 2022, the MEC for Cooperative Governance (Cogta), Lenah Miga, scolded the mayor for allegedly appointing a municipal manager (MM) of his own accord. Miga, in a statement, accused the mayor of contravening the Municipal Systems Act 2000, by appointing an acting Municipal Manager without a council resolution.

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