Picture: Former Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe

By OBAKENG MAJE

14 December 2025- Former Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Reginald Gaoraelwe is challenging his removal and has given the municipality 48 honours to reinstate him. Gaoraelwe has allegedly sent summons to the municipality through his lawyers saying that the municipal special council meeting convened in Seoding Community Hall, near Taung on 27 November 2025, to remove him through a motion of no confidence was unlawful.

In the letter that was seen by The Guardian Newspaper, Gaoraelwe alleged that, on or about 25 November 2025, he was served with a “(Notice of a special council meeting”) in terms of Section 29(1) of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”) scheduled for 27 November 2025 at Seoding Community Hall. He alleged the agenda, as served, listed a motion of no confidence.

“The abovementioned motion was tabled with recommendation for the immediate removal of me as well as my immediate removal from the executive committee by councillors Masego Mokua, Pico Seepamere, Amogelang Matuane and Lephoi respectively.

“The motion was subsequently granted and I was removed from office. The reasons for such removal as cited in the motion, was citing non-attendance of certain council meetings, as well as having brought the municipality into disrepute as a result of motor vehicle collisions, which I was involved in with vehicles owned by the municipality,” he said.

Gaoraelwe further said his removal did not comply with Standard Procedure in terms of the “Standing Rules of Order for Council Meetings of Greater Taung Local Municipality”(the “Rules”) as adopted by the abovementioned council in 2022, in that, he was not given prior mandatory notice of the “Motion of No Confidence”. He added that, due process was not followed as this would have allowed him an opportunity to be aware of the allegations.

“It is therefore my contention that my removal violates mandatory statutory and procedural requirements, rendering the decision null and void and impacting severely on the fundamental aspect of fairness relating to such matters.

“Rule 21 was not complied with in that the motion was not entered on the agenda paper, in the order that it was received in accordance with Rule 21.8 resulting in the motion being procedurally invalid,” said Gaoraelwe.

He said furthermore, a violation of Section 53 of “the Act” in that no prior notice was given of the motion of no confidence, prior to the meeting and he only became aware of the motion whilst at the meeting convened. Gaoraelwe said this was therefore procedurally unfair and in contravention of the Audi Alteram Partem Rule.

“Furthermore, there was a breach of the Code of Conduct, where an investigation of the facts and circumstances of the alleged breach, providing the councillor with reasonable opportunity to respond to the alleged breach and reporting the matter to a meeting of the municipal council after (a) and (b) as mentioned above have been complied with, were not carried out by the speaker.

“None of these requirements were met. It is furthermore my contention that proper governance process was not followed as Conflicts of Interest were not managed. The speaker failed to request that I recuse himself, while simultaneously failing to afford me any opportunity to respond,” he said.

Gaoraelwe said this violates the principles of impartiality, natural justice and ethical governance. He said as a result of the abovementioned actions, the speaker’s office is in breach of the “Act” and the “Rules” and consequently results in the motion of no confidence being invalid.

“The removal decision is null and void and the election of Thandiwe Sebe as a mayor, is therefore unlawful. So, I remain the lawful mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality. I now hereby demand that the unlawful decision of 27 November 2025, be withdrawn immediately.

“I must be reinstated to my position as a mayor within 48 hours of receipt of this letter. Written confirmation of compliance will be provided to me. Council ceased all activities, inconsistent with my lawful reinstatement,” said Gaoraelwe.

He demands full reinstatement within 48 hours, failure of which will result in him launching an urgent High Court proceeding seeking a declaratory order setting aside the unlawful removal. Gaoraelwe said he will seek an order to reinstate him as a mayor, costs on the attorney-and-own client scale, including further appropriate relief.

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