ONLY A week ago, Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa was ready to fight for his position and clear his name.
But now he has changed his tune and is ready to resign.
“I CAN’T WATCH THE COUNCIL GRINDING TO A STOP IN MY NAME,” HE TOLD DAILY SUN.
“Those who put politics first risk dragging down the administration and they do not care about the people, but I do.”
Mokgalapa released a statement yesterday morning, saying he planned to resign before the end of this month.
The mayor was put on leave after a sex audio recording of him and his former MMC for roads and transport, Sheila Senkubuge, was leaked on social media.
In the recording, the two can be heard discussing plans to fire other city officials before engaging in an apparent sex act.
They can also be heard referring to Tshwane council Speaker Katlego Mathebe as a witch and calling former mayor Solly Msimanga a big head with stupid policies.
Ever since the audio recording was leaked, the EFF and the ANC have been gunning for his head.
The EFF called for his removal while the ANC threatened to place the city under administration.
It backed down after the DA said it would challenge the move in court.
In his statement, Mokgalapa said resigning was a tough decision to make.
“The most important consideration is to put the people of Tshwane first,” he said.
“In my view, stepping down would pave the way for further progress beyond that which was achieved in my term so far.”
He said he knew his presence in office was a football that people who were politically spiteful couldn’t resist kicking around.
He accused the EFF and the ANC of wanting to get their hand in the cookie jar.
“As you can see, services have been halted because of the ongoing battles in the Tshwane council,” he said.
He said disciplinary discussions were not part of the City of Tshwane but of the DA and would continue.
Mokgalapa dismissed reports he was forced by his party to resign.
“Those are just malicious lies spread by people who want to harm Tshwane.”
The mayor will be going back to work today after being on leave since November.
The DA’s Gauteng leader, John Moodley, thanked Mokgalapa for his service and said the party would start the process of finding a replacement.
Gauteng MEC for human settlements Lebogang Maile said: “This is an opportune time, for council to resolve some of the issues that have been on the agenda for a while.
“He vacates such a strategic office at a very unfortunate time, amid massive service delivery challenges, water crisis in Hammanskraal, and mismanagement of city finances.”
