The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in North West is deeply opposed to the recall of Ngaka Modiri Molema district mayor Phaladi Saku.

This comes after the provincial ANC leadership gave Saku until today to resign from her post and be replaced by Manketsi Tlhape.

Saku was apparently voted to be mayor by councillors, defying the party’s directive to put Tlhape in charge of the district soon after the 2011 local government elections.

The ANC has never approved of her since then and provincial party spokesperson, Kenny Morolong, indicated that Saku was supposed to leave or face a disciplinary hearing.

“Together with Africa Thale, the mayor at Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality, Saku should respect the position of the organisation because continued defiance would lead to disciplinary issues pursued against the two members,” he said.

Morolong said that decisions of the ANC had to be implemented and no one should be seen to be acting outside the party’s mandate.

However, Sanco provincial secretary Packet Seaketso said bringing in Tlhape to the district was tantamount to “killing it”. He alleged that she had failed to lead Tswaing local municipality and it would be difficult for her to assume a bigger responsibility.

“The ANC cannot force Saku to resign so as to give way to a mayor who has dismally failed Tswaing local municipality which has 14 wards. How can she manage a district with 101 wards? This is a clear indication that the PEC of the ANC has an agenda to kill the district. Tlhape left Tswaing under Section 139 of the constitution, which shows bad administration and poor leadership,” he said.

Seaketso further questioned Tlhape’s grassroots leadership qualities, saying the ward she comes from was ruled by the opposition party.

“The ward where Cde Tlhape resides is led by DA and it leaves us with questions of her leadership skills and qualities. The people have spoken in terms of the mayors of their choice and as Sanco, we respect the will of the majority.

“Cde Manketse was not even on the party’s proportional representation list,” he said.

He further alleged that ANC leadership in the province was damaging the organisation’s image.