DA denies claims of councillor's removal due to sangoma practices
Image: Supplied/EFF
The DA in Tshwane has dismissed claims that its former ward 98 councillor Nosipho Mtakati was removed from her position for being a sangoma.
The DA said Mtakati, who is set to contest the ward 98 by-election tomorrow under the EFF banner, was actually expelled from the DA due to poor performance and allegations of being intoxicated on multiple occasions.
The allegations that Mtakati was removed from the DA due to her sangoma practices emerged during a campaign stop ahead of the by-election, where both Matakati and EFF regional leader Obakeng Ramabodu made the claim.
Ramabodu accused the DA of actively pursuing a campaign to replace black leaders at both national and local government levels, adding that Mtakati's removal from the party stemmed from her being a sangoma.
'We took her because we respect our culture. She is now contesting under the EFF banner. Please vote to retain her as ward councillor on July 9, 2025. Nosipho will continue to deliver services under ward 98,' he said.
DA caucus chief whip Ofentse Madzebatela dismissed the allegations as untrue, saying that Mtakati's lack of commitment to her work as a councillor was the reason for her sacking.
'I can assure you that she was not removed because she is a sangoma and it is very sad when someone, who the party gave an opportunity to serve and the person failed to execute her duties,' he said.
He said numerous complaints had been lodged against Mtakati, citing her unresponsiveness to public queries, unavailability to communities, and ultimately her poor performance as a legislator in the city.
He alleged that Mtakati had skipped meetings of the Section 79 committee as well as council and caucus meetings, which ultimately led to her expulsion.
Madzebatela said the DA took Mtakati through disciplinary processes, setting specific targets for her performance, including attending meetings and canvassing in her ward.
However, she failed to meet these targets, even after revised targets were set by the national federal legal council.
'There are other councillors in the DA who are also going through the same process. It is not an issue of whether the person is a sangoma. It is an issue of performance. You will see that in the coming weeks there will be other councillors who will also be facing similar sanctions,' he said.
The ward 98 constituency, where the by-election will take place on July 9, includes areas such as Wonderpark, Akasia, Orchards, Karen Park, and Amandasig.
The DA is fielding Mickey van der Westhuizen, a dedicated community activist, in the by-election. The party claims Van der Westhuizen has its full backing and is committed to driving real change.
Meanwhile, the ANC has nominated Papi Horoto, describing him as a loyal and capable cadre with a track record of activism.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
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