WHILE RISE Mzansi is calling for the firing of tjatjarag Kopanong mayor, the South African Communist Party (SACP) wants him back at work.
RISE Mzansi's provincial convenor in the Free State province, Nomsa Marchesi, said on Thursday, 23 November that her party believes that the suspension of Xolani Tseletsele for his appalling conduct towards Jagersfontein resident Kalebe Kalebe is just a slap on the wrist.
She claimed that it wasn't the first time that Tseletsele has conducted himself in such an aggressive manner.
Marchesi said the mayor who easily displays such tendencies should not be allowed to hold public office or be a state representative.
"The ANC-led Free State provincial government has continuously disappointed the people of the Free State, especially the residents of Jagersfontein, after their homes were destroyed by a mine burst in 2022, and once again, nothing has been done since numerous empty promises were made to the residents," she claimed.
Marchesi said it was unacceptable for a resident to be mistreated by an elected public representative in such a manner, for exercising his human right by calling out the leading government for a lack of service delivery.
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"It's evident that that the political establishment has no solutions that they created, and which affect the people. It's in this context that RISE Mzansi states that the Free State needs new leaders of integrity who can provide new answers," Marchesi said.
But the SACP said while it respected the ANC’s right to conduct its internal processes, they don't agree to pass judgement and impose sanctions without a hearing to obtain and process all the facts and developments in the matter.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced on Wednesday, 22 November that Tseletsele had been removed as mayor of Kopanong municipality and his ANC membership suspended.
Stofile said, however, the SACP was in no way condoning the altercation.
"However, in the interest of fairness and consistency, we call for the matter to be handled with restraint in an organisational process that is based on facts and truths with the intention of being corrective and not punitive," Stofile said.
