Bar a successful vote of no confidence, Mokgalapa on paid leave until 2020
Suspended City of Tshwane mayor, Stevens Mokgalapa will be on paid special leave until the end of January 2020. That is unless two motions of no-confidence in him succeed.
Mokgalapa and the city's MMC for Transport, Sheila Senkubuge have been placed on special leave from Thursday.
The ANC’s chairperson in Tshwane, Kgosi Maepa, confirmed they will table their own motion against the suspended mayor, despite the fact that the EFF's application for such a motion is expected to be heard in council on Thursday morning.
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At a special council sitting on Thursday, the DA's chief whip, Christo van den Heever said there is nothing untoward about Mokgalapa’s leave.
"The leave policy makes it possible for each and every councilor to apply for leave," said Van den Heever.
He confirmed that Mokgalapa's leave was approved up to 29 January 2020.
The EFF raised an objection, saying it’s the council that needs to approve his special leave and not the DA.
Van den Heever, however, says there’s nothing like special leave he filed annual leave.
The red berets have called for a postponement.
Mokgalapa's leave comes in the wake of a controversial audio recording in which he is heard discussing court cases with the city's MMC for Transport, Sheila Senkubuge and appears to have sex with her.
ANC Tshwane chairperson Kogsi Maepa says Mokgalapa abused his power.
"Mogalapa has simply abused his power to prey on women," says Maepa. "The DA should be ashamed of such a leader. He must fall on his sword."