Ekurhuleni council turns into musical chairs as Mayor reshuffles committee twice

As the City of Ekurhuleni battles allegations of entrenched corruption, the council has descended into instability, with the Mayor reshuffling his mayoral committee for the second time this month.

Nkosiphindile Xhakaza has appointed three ANC councillors to fill the vacant positions in his mayoral committee.

Nkgopotse Mekgwe will head Human Settlements, Siyabonga Moloi takes over Community Services, and Dora Mlambo has been assigned to Economic Infrastructure and Development.

The changes follow the rejection of last week’s appointments by ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which subsequently withdrew their councillors from the mayoral committee.

Xhakaza says the appointments are aimed at stabilising governance by ensuring all portfolios are fully constituted to accelerate service delivery, strengthen oversight and enhance accountability to residents.

However, the mayor suffered another setback this afternoon after MMC for Finance and ANC regional secretary Jongizizwe Dhlabathi resigned.

Dhlabathi reportedly called it quits due to political differences with the mayor regarding the composition of the mayoral committee.

With the metro still attempting to constitute a full executive, ActionSA’s Xolani Khumalo has warned that continued instability could result in the municipality being placed under administration.

“In just two weeks, the mayor has reshuffled his mayoral committee twice in a unilateral decision that even members of his own political party are found wanting. ActionSA rejected the undermining move by the mayor and the ANC to force us into a coalition government that has no credibility and marred with reports of corruption,” Khumalo said.

“The postponement of the council meeting carries has a huge cost implication, amounts to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.”

Khumalo says Xhakaza should be held personally liable for the expense of postponing the council meeting.

The EFF Gauteng Notes the Changes in the City of Ekurhuleni Executive Committee, Plunging the City into further Crisis. pic.twitter.com/LZKFLp5d0j

— EFF Gauteng (@EFFGautengProv) February 25, 2026

The Ekurhuleni metro is also under scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission, where allegations of corruption within the municipality are being examined.