Port St Johns Mayor Fired: Council Rejects Cogta Pick

Mayor Cebisa Mazuza refused to extend the acting appointment of an inexperienced municipal manager, in line with a directive from Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams and lost her job.

The Coastal recently reported how Williams did not want to extend Mandisi Ngxekana's contract as he did not meet the minimum requirements for the post and also demanded answers regarding the employment status of municipal manager Mluleki Fihlani, suspended in 2024 and reinstated by the Mthatha High Court in July 2025.

In his letter to the Port St Johns Local Municipality, MEC Williams, based his refusal to appoint the current corporate services manager, Mandisi Ngxekana on ".... [he] does not possess the requisite five years’ experience in senior management required to act in the position of the municipal manager".

Speaking exclusively to The Coastal, following her removal, Mazuza confirmed her axing as mayor and said she heard through the rumour mill that her head was on the chopping block.

She therefore anticipated her recall from office but was still surprised when it happened at the council meeting, since she received no formal notification from the ANC prior to the motion being tabled.

However, Mazuza said she was told that her removal was a result of her undermining council.

“My problems relate to my refusal to append my signature for the acting appointment of Ngxekana. I was not informed by the ANC of its intention to recall me. I was surprised during the council meeting.

"MEC Williams sent a delegation to introduce an acting municipal manager from his office, but his delegation was never given a chance to speak. I think it is a good move that they have removed me, I put up with a lot as mayor,” Mazuza said.

She was replaced by Port St Johns sub-regional chairperson, Nelson Nontlevu. Local Economic Development political head, Ayanda Gantsho, was removed from the mayoral committee and replaced with Ndumiso Kawu, the current ward 4 councillor.

A source, who witnessed the drama first-hand, said Mazuza’s removal was put to a vote with Nontlevu narrowly winning by twelve votes to ten.

"Eleven ANC councillors and one from the Civic Independents voted for Mazuza’s removal, another ten ANC councillors opposed the motion, while one ANC councillor and two from the ATM abstained.

The new mayor will now sign the acting appointment letter for Ngxekana, the source said.

Williams’ spokesperson, Pheelo Oliphant, said the removal of the mayor nineteen days before the term of the current council's term ends is irregular and a breach of the law.

“The decision of the Port St Johns Municipal Council to appoint an acting municipal manager who does not meet the minimum requirements to be the municipal manager is at variance with the municipal prescripts. MEC Williams is applying his mind to the developments in Port St Johns Municipality and looking at the conspectus of the legalities of the developments and will provide guidance to the council shortly before the November 4 elections,” Oliphant said.

"Port St Johns ANC ill-disciplined"

While local ANC leadership did not take up the opportunity to explain their actions, the spokesperson of the Eastern Cape ANC, Yanga Zicina, did not mince his words.

Zicina said the removal of Mazuza from office was a shocker and an act of ill-discipline.

"No ANC structure had sanctioned the act, and no consultation had been entered into with the provincial executive.

“No deployment or redeployment processes were embarked upon, and this is simply an act of ill-discipline which must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

"The ANC is hard at work, across the board, speaking with South African voters as part of the 2026 local government election campaigns, it therefore should not be deterred with such petty issues like removing each other from positions of responsibility.

"The ANC will get close to the developments and will ensure the application of corrective measures. Our people need stability, accountability and efficiency,” Zicina said.

Council speaker, Simthembile Sicoto, and ANC sub-regional secretary in Port St Johns did not respond to questions from The Coastal.

ANC regional secretary, Vinny Tsita, blue-ticked a WhatsApp text with questions sent on Wednesday (October 14) and did not answer his phone on Thursday.

Questions sent to him included:

1. Whether the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC approved the decision to remove mayor Mazuza from office and;
2. If the party was aware that one of its councils had an unqualified acting accounting officer.