Sanco Provincial Chairperson and former City of Matlosana MMC for Public Safety, Tshepo Khoza, has called for the immediate removal of Matlosana Mayor Fikile Mahlope, warning that the ANC risks losing the municipality in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Speaking in Potchefstroom at the JB Marks Municipality, Khoza accused Mahlophe of being embroiled in destructive battles with the Municipal Manager, Lesego Seametso, the Chief Financial Officer, Mercy Phetla and the broader administration.
“The ANC in Matlosana leads by only three seats. If they don’t remove this Mayor, the ANC will lose Matlosana. They must get a leader who prioritises the community over internal fights,” Khoza said.
Khoza sent a warning to the ANC and suggested that if Mahlope remains in office, it would be difficult for Sanco to campaign for the ANC next year, insisting:
“They must remove the Mayor now. We need someone who thinks about service delivery, not personal feuds.”
Khoza also raised concerns about Maquassi Hills Municipality, warning it was “head to head with the opposition,” and one wrong move could tip control away from the ANC.
He concluded by highlighting the dire state of sewer infrastructure in Kanana Township, which he said reflected poor governance under Mahlope’s leadership.
Matlosana is currently struggling with maintaining its infrastructure and providing quality basic services like water and electricity. The municipality has adopted unfunded budgets for several years, with the deficit for the 2025/2026 financial year projected to be R3.8 billion.
This practice has significantly worsened the municipality’s financial crisis and compromised its ability to deliver basic services.
