MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – Cllr Brighton Tlakula's sudden resignation as mayor of the Makhado Municipality on Tuesday, sparked wide-spread speculation as to what motivated this sudden decision.

During an interview with Cllr Tlakula on Tuesday night, he confirmed his resignation, quoting health reasons as the major contributing factor. In the same breath he mentioned that he had received a better offer elsewhere. When asked whether there was any truth in the rumour that he had been forced to resign, due to political pressure from provincial level, Cllr Tlakula said that he too had heard the rumour, but that it was not true.

Apart from Cllr Tlakula's sudden resignation, news also spread rapidly about another ANC councillor's resignation from Council, that of Cllr Philemon Madaka, on Monday. On Wednesday a senior ANC spokesperson at regional level also stated that Cllr Moses Tseli had been removed as Chief Whip of the ANC within the Makhado Municipality, following a decision by the ANC on Tuesday night. The spokesperson said that Cllr Madaka's resignation and the removal of Cllr Tseli as Chief Whip had were due to the fact that they are to be redeployed elsewhere. In Cllr Madaka's case, it is said that he is to be redeployed within the Vhembe District Municipality. No other reasons were given for Cllr Madaka's resignation and Cllr Tseli's removal as Chief Whip, other than for the mere sake of redeployment. To date the ANC remains very tight-lipped about the upheavals within the Makhado Municipal Council. Their official version remains that there is nothing sinister about the current events.

In the meantime, the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has welcomed Cllr Tlakula's resignation, stating that Cllr Tlakula's explanation that he had resigned due to ill health, was hard to swallow. This becomes significant when one looks at the events leading up to the mayor's sudden resignation.

Cllr Timothy Maanda, regional Chairman of the DA in the Vhembe District said on Wednesday that efforts by him to try and find out what was going on, were met by the ANC with silence and an unwillingness to talk. He said that it is clear that the ANC is trying to handle the situation in a very private manner. Cllr Maanda is also of the opinion that the mayor's resignation was the result of political pressure from provincial level, especially when looking at the way in which Council had handled issues such as the much-publicised Motor Vehicle Loan Scheme, the continuous payment of illegal cellphone allowances to councillors, the highly controversial payment of a R110 000 bonus to the Municipal Manager and the employment contract of the Municipal Manager. On numerous occasions, the DA has also warned Council that it is not handling these matters according to legislation.

Apart from this, it has also expressed concern repeatedly with regard to constant allegations of gross corruption in the tender committee, stating that millions of rands are allegedly going into the pockets of unscrupulous politicians. In a statement issued by Cllr Marie Helm, also from the DA, she says she hopes that the resignation of the mayor will bring new hope and the return of rule of law to Council.

The UDM also welcomed the mayor's resignation, whatever his reason might be. According to UDM councillor, Cllr Langanani Mashau, the mayor's resignation is long overdue. He stated that it is obvious that the mayor and the ANC in the Makhado Municipality had just been doing crisis management and that there was no governance. He also expressed the hope that maybe the ANC will now bring in a mayor and Executive Committee who adhere to the rule of law.

Despite all the speculation about the possible motive behind the "re-shuffling" of Council, Cllr Tlakula on Tuesday described himself as a unifying figure. "Louis Trichardt is stable. Whites and blacks have no problems with each other because of me," Cllr Tlakula said.

As to who will be the new mayor, Council is keeping a tight lid on the matter. The Director Corporate Services at the Makhado Municipality, Mr Peter Magwala said on Wednesday that Cllr Tlakula would continue performing the duties of mayor until September 2, after which the name of the new mayor would be made public.