The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has rejected new positions offered to its councillors in the City of Ekurhuleni’s Mayoral Committee, following a dramatic midnight reshuffle announced by Executive Mayor Nkosiphindile Xhakaza.
The red berets say they will not form part of the newly constituted Mayoral Committee and will instead take up seats on the opposition benches, accusing Xhakaza of sidelining their councillors and undermining prior coalition understandings.
In a strongly worded statement, the party confirmed that two of its councillors — Bridget Thusi and Kgopello Hollo — were unilaterally removed from their positions as MMCs for Community Services and Human Settlements, respectively.
“The removal of these two EFF MMCs follows a pattern that began in 2024 with the irrational removal of an EFF MMC from Finance Nkululeko Dunga, a move that coincided with a decline in the City’s financial health,” said EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo.
Thambo said the party believes its representatives performed “exemplary service” in their portfolios and described the reshuffle as politically motivated rather than performance-based.
The reshuffle also saw changes to the water and sanitation portfolio. Responsibilities previously overseen by EFF MMC Thembi Msane have now been moved under a newly created portfolio called Metro Utilities (Trading) Services, to be led by an ANC councillor.
According to the EFF, this restructuring risks destabilising service delivery in a critical sector.
“Of particular concern is the decision to strip the EFF of oversight over water and sanitation. This irresponsible move seeks to undermine the work done to stabilise and improve water infrastructure in Ekurhuleni,” Thambo said.
In a bid to reconfigure the Mayoral Committee with fewer EFF members, Xhakaza reportedly offered new roles to Msane as MMC for Infrastructure and Economic Development Agency, and to Leshaka Manamela as MMC for Human Settlements.
However, the EFF declined both offers.
“The EFF informs the people of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng and South Africa that we have declined the offer to form part of the Mayoral Committee in the City of Ekurhuleni and will humbly and gracefully accept our role in the opposition benches,” Thambo said.
The development marks a significant shift in the political dynamics within the Ekurhuleni council. The EFF had previously played a key role in the metro’s governance arrangements, including holding the finance portfolio and the Speaker position — the latter of which the party claims was not honoured in recent negotiations.
Meanwhile, the EFF joins ActionSA in rejecting aspects of the reshuffle. ActionSA has also opposed the appointment of Xolani Khumalo, further highlighting tensions within the coalition-led metro government.
Political analysts say the reshuffle could deepen fractures within the governing arrangement in Ekurhuleni, potentially affecting service delivery and council stability in one of Gauteng’s key metros.
Despite stepping away from the executive, the EFF insists it will continue to hold the administration accountable.
“We commend our MMCs for their work and remain confident that from the opposition benches, we will continue to defend the interests of the people of Ekurhuleni,” Thambo added.
The mayor’s office has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the removals, but the reshuffle signals a recalibration of power within the metro — one that may reshape coalition politics in the months ahead.
