DA and EFF say Thabazimbi council infighting is delaying services

The DA and EFF in Thabazimbi say renewed political infighting in the hung Limpopo council is disrupting decision-making and delaying service delivery.

The municipality has operated without a single party holding a majority since the 2021 local government elections. Its council includes representatives from the ANC, DA, EFF, Labour Party, Thabazimbi Residents Association and MK Party.

SABC News reported on Saturday that councillors from the DA and EFF had raised concerns about competing leadership structures in the municipality. They said disputes over the mayor and speaker had created confusion in council.

Municipality disputes paralysis claim

DA councillor Estie Fourie and EFF councillor Sello Mohutsiwa said divisions among parties had again produced parallel structures. Mohutsiwa described a period in which rival groups claimed authority over the positions of mayor and speaker.

Thabazimbi mayoral spokesperson Joshua Motsomane rejected the claim that the municipality’s administration was paralysed. He said the municipal manager and management team remained in place and that the municipality had one inaugurated mayor.

Motsomane acknowledged political challenges ahead of the local government elections, including uncertainty about whether some councillors would return or remain candidates for their parties.

The competing accounts leave the council’s political stability in dispute. The municipality’s administrative work continues, while opposition councillors say political conflict is preventing the council from functioning as it should.

Thabazimbi has faced repeated instability linked to its hung council. By-elections have not produced a durable majority, leaving parties dependent on shifting agreements to elect office-bearers and pass council decisions.

The next local government elections are scheduled for 4 November 2026. Voters will elect a new council, but the result could again require coalition arrangements if no party wins an outright majority.