The battle for control of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality exploded into open political warfare on Thursday as efforts by the African National Congress to remove Mayor Gerson Molapisane descended into chaos, legal complications and fierce resistance.
What was expected to be a smooth transition of power instead turned the streets of Tzaneen into a heavily guarded political theatre, with police officers deployed across Agatha Street amid fears of unrest.
Municipal offices were shut to the public until 14:00 after acting municipal manager Freedom Mthethwaordered restricted access to councillors and officials only.
Outside the municipal buildings, rival groups of protesters gathered under tight police watch. One faction sang in support of Molapisane while another demanded his immediate removal in favour of ANC-backed candidate Odas Ngobeni.
Inside council chambers, tensions were equally high.
The day began with a Municipal Executive Committee meeting attended by Molapisane himself. Despite mounting pressure from his own party, the mayor appeared calm, confident and unshaken. Witnesses described him as “jubilant,” smiling and greeting colleagues as though there was no threat hanging over his political future.
But the mood shifted dramatically when senior ANC leaders from both the Provincial and Regional Executive Committees arrived to confront councillors.
The delegation, led by ANC Limpopo Provincial Secretary Reuben Madadzhe, addressed the ANC caucus in an attempt to enforce the party’s decision to remove Molapisane from office.
The move forms part of a wider ANC “reconfiguration” process currently unfolding across municipalities in Limpopo.
ANC provincial spokesperson Ernest Rachoene confirmed earlier this week that the party had resolved to replace the mayors of both the Vhembe District Municipality and the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
In Vhembe, the transition happened without resistance after Miyelani Chauke officially replaced Fredah Nkondo.
Rachoene said the newly appointed leadership had been instructed to fast-track service delivery and address long-standing water shortages affecting communities across the province.
However, in Tzaneen, the ANC’s plans ran into a major procedural obstacle.
Although Ngobeni was officially sworn in on Thursday as a proportional representation councillor following the resignation of Tennyson Ngobeni, the party failed to immediately elevate him to the mayoral office.
Ngobeni has, for now, been deployed to the municipality’s Finance and Budget Committee while awaiting the political showdown expected later this month.
The ANC attempted to force the issue during Thursday’s council sitting when Chief Whip Given Malatjitried to table a motion of no confidence against Molapisane.
But the move was stopped in its tracks after council officials reportedly advised that due process had not been followed.
According to council regulations, a motion of no confidence must first be formally scheduled before it can be debated and voted on.
The failed attempt has now postponed the showdown until the next council sitting on May 29.
The development leaves the Greater Tzaneen Municipality trapped in political limbo.
Molapisane remains mayor and appears determined to stay in office until he is lawfully removed. Sources close to him say he intends to continue working and completing municipal programmes despite growing pressure from the ANC leadership.
Meanwhile, Ngobeni — the man widely tipped to replace him — remains sidelined as he waits for the decisive vote that could finally hand him the mayoral chain.
Despite Thursday’s setback, the ANC remains adamant that the change in leadership will happen.
But Molapisane, affectionately known in political circles as “Khwakhwashimba-Ya-Bolobedu,” has shown he will not go down without a fight.
For now, the embattled mayor appears determined to use every legal and procedural avenue available to resist the ANC’s attempt to push him out of office.
As police maintained watch and protesters dispersed late on Thursday afternoon, it became clear that the political war in Tzaneen is far from over.
All eyes are now on May 29, when councillors are expected to meet again for what could become one of the fiercest municipal political battles Limpopo has seen in recent year
