ANCYL wants ANC Potch councillors recalled after DA mayor voted in

The ANC must recall its councillors in Potchefstroom after the party's mayor was replaced by a DA councillor, the ANCYL said on Thursday.

"The African National Congress Youth League wants to emphatically voice its disappointment and displeasure at the conduct of councillors of the ANC in Tlokwe municipality," it said in a statement.

"It is expected that the national leadership of the ANC must act decisively and recall all those ANC councillors [who voted for the motion]," the league said.

"The mayor was voted out last night [Wednesday], and the new one was voted in immediately afterwards," Tlokwe (Potchefstroom) municipal spokesman Willie Maphosa said on Thursday.

The transition between the two mayors was "going smoothly". The new mayor would address staff on Friday, he said.

The North West Democratic Alliance said an ANC-driven motion of no-confidence in former mayor Mapetle Mapetle was accepted, with 37 votes in favour and 13 against.

DA councillor Annette Combrinck became the first DA mayor in the province after she defeated ANC candidate Lucky Tsagae by 20 votes to 19.

The ANCYL said the ANC councillors were reckless in pursuing the motion, as it led to Combrinck being voted in.

"While the country is embroiled in discussions about the impact of a motion of no confidence on the president of the country, these councillors... pass a motion of no confidence on the mayor, with disastrous results," it said.

The DA said the vote was indicative of the instability and infighting in the North West province. The party's Tlokwe caucus leader Chris Landsberg said not all councillors participated in the vote for the new mayor.

"A faction of the ANC left the chambers after the motion of no confidence was passed," he said.

The DA said several ANC members tabled a notice of a motion of no confidence in Combrinck shortly after she won the vote.