DA welcomes the ‘stepping aside’ of JB Marks Executive Mayor

Issued by Cllr Chris Hattingh – DA Constituency Head: JB Marks Local Municipality
12 Apr 2021 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement that JB Marks Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Kgotso Khumalo, will step aside from his duties a week before his theft and fraud trial which will commence in the Regional Potchefstroom Court on 16 April 2021. Cllr Leon Mkhabela has been appointed as the Acting Executive Mayor.

The long-awaited announcement comes 5 months after his arrest and the first appearance in court on these charges. This announcement is far too little and comes too late as he should have resigned after his arrest.

The move also follows the DA’s motion of no confidence against the Mayor and the ANC’s unanimous vote of confidence to keep him in as the Mayor.

During this heated debate the DA was repeatedly shouted down by ANC members led by Mayor Khumalo and the Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Finance, Kelvin Johnson, who presided over the JB Marks finances during the period when the alleged theft and fraud occurred.

Johnson even went into an uncontrollable rage crossing the floor of the chamber threatening DA members whilst shouting threatening and abusive insults.

Retaining a theft and fraud accused Mayor whilst he faces trial directly opposes practices of an accountable government, where elected public representatives should resign in shame when facing such charges.

This ANC sponsored culture of stepping aside falls far short of accountability, and Mayor Khumalo appointing his Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Leon Mkhabela as Acting Mayor allows him to maintain control over the Executive whilst receiving his salary and full benefits.

The DA will continue to expose the ANC maladministration in the JB Marks Municipality hoping that the trial of Mayor Khumalo and his co-accused will be concluded swiftly as a first but important step to clean up the financial quagmire that has become the major contributing reason for the collapse of service delivery in the municipality.