Less than a year after the newly appointed mayor of the Greater Giyani Municipality, Cllr Doris Mathebula, was officially sworn into office, she faces accusations of nepotism.

Mathebula, who took over the reigns after the recalling of former mayor Angie Ramaepadi, is accused of trying to build her empire in the municipality by allegedly appointing her relatives to key positions.

The ANC Youth League in the Greater Giyani area is accusing Mathebula of abusing her position. This was after she allegedly appointed Magic Masingi as the new municipal manager to fill the position vacated by Silence Makhubele, who has been deployed to Parliament.

According to the spokesperson for the ANCYL in the Greater Giyani area, Sydwell Mabunda, the league is calling for the resignation of the mayor as she had failed to act as a true leader. “The mayor is also accused of appointing her son, Musa Mathebula, as manager for the project management unit on a three-year contract. She also allegedly tried to appoint her nephew as her personal assistant, but was stopped after it was discovered that she had conducted the shortlisting process herself,” he said.

Mabunda told Mirror that Mathebula was also being accused of trying to influence the Mopani District municipality into appointing her relative to occupy a vacant position as municipal manager. He added that they would seek the ANC’s intervention in the region to make sure that the mayor was recalled.

When contacted for comment, Mathebula, however, dismissed the allegations that she had appointed her relatives. She further referred enquiries to the chairperson of the ANC in the region, who was not available for comment.