By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
22 April 20255- On 14 April 2025, the majority of councillors—consisting of 9 out of 16 councillors at Mamusa Local Municipality, petitioned the now former speaker, councillor John Batsi, the Municipal Manager, Rantsho Gincane, and the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, to convene a virtual council meeting on 16 April 2025.
According to the Municipal Manager, Rantsho Gincane, the meeting was convened in terms of Section 29(1A) of the Municipal Structures Act (as amended)(Act), which provides: “If the speaker or acting speaker refuses to call a meeting of the council as requested in terms of subsection (1), the Municipal Manager or in the absence or refusal by the Municipal Manager, a person designated by the MEC for local government in the province, may call and chair the meeting.
“The speaker refused to comply with the request of the majority of councillors, prompting them to approach me. On 17 April 2025, I acceded to the request and issued a notice for the council meeting to be convened on 22 April 2025 via a virtual platform,” he said.
Gincane further said the primary purpose of the meeting was to allow councillors to deliberate on a motion of no confidence against Batsi and Chairperson, Ephraim Chubisi. He added that, the meeting was intended to confirm his appointment, as well as the termination of acting Municipal Manager, FT Mabokela.
“As the convenor of the meeting, I wish to affirm that the council meeting was convened and satisfied the necessary quorum. Residents and stakeholders are hereby informed about the council resolutions.
“A motion of no confidence against Batsi was unanimously passed and he has been replaced by councillor Lesego Motlapele following his uncontested election. Chubisi has been removed as the Chairperson of Finance and Corporate Services and replaced by Councillor Nthabiseng Modise after a motion of no confidence was passed, unanimously,” said Gincane.
He said the council reaffirmed its previous decisions of the meeting held on 18 March 2025, to reinstate him as the substantive Municipal Manager and terminate Mabokela as the acting Municipal Manager. Gincane said the council wishes to categorically state that Mabokela is no longer in the employ of the Mamusa Local Municipality.
“Our immediate concentration and preoccupation is on restoring the confidence of our people and all stakeholders by providing the most basic services and strengthening the municipal administration,” he said.
The Guardian 