Political storm brews as Emfuleni mayor fights ANC recall decision

ANC Gauteng coordinator Hope Papo has weighed in on the brewing political storm in the troubled Emfuleni municipality, framing Mayor Sipho Radebe’s recall as routine party procedure rather than a reflection of his leadership.

Papo explained that decisions around who holds public office are handled internally by regional and provincial ANC structures. He stressed that deployment decisions are separate from service delivery assessments. 

Using his own experience as an example, Papo explained why these matters are handled internally. 

“At some point, I was an MEC for health in Gauteng. The organisation came to me and said to me, I have to not be an MEC in the new term of 2014 to 2019 because there must be six women MECs. Must I go to the organisation and say there must be hands off me or something like that? Deployment and redeployment is not a matter where you apply for a job and then you then say when there's a change, some people must then intervene. No!”

He added that by underscoring ANC discipline and the expectation for members to accept organisational decisions. 

“We must actually send a message to all ANC members who are chairpersons, chief whips, MMCs, MECs, that deployment is not a matter, which is a mass discussion, for mass discussion. When you are deployed, there's no discussion. When there's a change, you must accept that there's going to be a change, because the organisation has got particular decisions which it's actually taking. This is the discipline we expect from all public representatives of the ANC,” Papo said.

The recall of Radebe comes amid mounting tensions within ANC structures in Sedibeng, with regional leaders citing Emfuleni’s deepening financial strain and ongoing service delivery failures as justification for his removal.

Radebe has formally appealed to the ANC national leadership to save his position, insisting that the recall attempt is politically motivated and does not reflect his achievements in office. In a letter addressed to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, he revealed that he was summoned on Tuesday, February 10, by the ANC Sedibeng Regional Office Bearers and instructed to step down.

“I write to formally inform the Office of the Secretary-General that on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, I was convened by the ANC Regional Office Bearers (ROB) of the Sedibeng Region, where I was requested to resign as Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality. The reasons advanced for this request were that Emfuleni Local Municipality continues to experience severe financial challenges, and that I have allegedly failed to bring about financial stability, with assertions that the municipality is in a state of decline.”

Radebe rejected the allegations and said the municipality was in a far worse condition when he took office in 2021. 

“I respectfully submit that this characterisation is neither politically fair nor factually accurate, particularly when properly contextualised against the condition of the municipality at the time I assumed office in 2021. At that point, Emfuleni was facing a far more devastating financial, infrastructure, and service delivery crisis than is the case today,” he added.

He also raised procedural concerns, warning that provincial leaders may be deliberating on his political future without hearing directly from him. 

“I have further been informed that the Provincial Office Bearers (POB) of Gauteng have been engaged on this matter and that deliberations are being conducted largely on the basis of reports submitted by the ROB. I respectfully submit that it is procedurally and politically improper for such far-reaching conclusions to be reached without affording me an opportunity to present directly to the Provincial leadership, especially given the complexity, historical depth, and structural nature of Emfuleni’s challenges,” Radebe said.

To counter the narrative of failure, Radebe appended a detailed performance dossier highlighting his achievements, particularly in water and sanitation. Central to his defence is the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in partnership with Rand Water, aimed at stabilising bulk supply, reducing non-revenue water losses, and curbing chronic sewer spillages. Other initiatives include the refurbishment of four critical pump stations, the replacement of over 50 collapsed sewer lines, and major pipeline upgrades linking key wastewater treatment works.

This dispute now extends beyond municipal governance and into ANC power politics, with Radebe arguing that his recall is more about shifting political alignments in Sedibeng than actual performance.

Earlier, in November 2025, Radebe had appealed directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into complaints from the Roshnee community in Vereeniging about unlawful electricity disconnections, inaccurate billing, and allegations of bribery and extortion by municipal officials.

The Star

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