Mayor reads the signs and quits

The mayor of Polokwane municipality, Freddy Greaver, resigned yesterday, a day after the sacking of four other mayors in Limpopo.

Sources in the province told The Times that he announced his resignation during an ANC caucus meeting yesterday.

"He said he was resigning due to personal reasons, but it is known that he is leaving because he sees that he will not last long in his position," said a source.

Polokwane municipal spokesman Tshidiso Mothapo claimed he was unaware of Greaver's departure.

"We will make an announcement as soon as we get that information. At the moment there is no such information."

Limpopo ANC spokesman Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the party has not received Greaver's resignation letter.

"We cannot comment until we receive a letter stating that he is resigning," she said.

Greaver's departure comes after the ANC in the province dismissed mayors Lawrence Mapoulo of Capricorn District Municipality, Joshua Matlou of Mopani District Municipality, Wendy Matemane of Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality, and Josias Mahlake of Greater Tubatse Local Municipality.

The ANC said it had recalled the mayors after considering weaknesses in the municipalities and as a way of strengthening delivery at the local government level.

All the dismissed mayors including Greaver, were appointed and served under the former premier Cassel Mathale, who was forced to resign by the party.

Mathale, whose relationship with the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema has been a source of discomfort to the ANC, is now an MP.

The mayors perceived the link to Mathale and their suspected allegiance to Malema could be the reasons for their dismissal.

The SA Municipal Workers Union has raised its concerns about the removal of the four .

"As Samwu, we wish to be convinced that the decision to recall the four mayors in the province is not informed by factional tendencies," the union said.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Mogalakwena Local Municipality, William Mabuela, says the court interdict preventing the Limpopo government from placing the municipality under administration had exposed the fact that the decision was taken based on factional in-fighting.

The Pretoria High Court ordered last Thursday, pending its final determination of the application for relief on reviewing the decision, to stop the province placing the municipality under the control of the provincial government because the council was in a position to fulfil its obligations.