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14 ANC councillors in Elundini go unpaid over SACP claims

Published

The councillors say they were accused of defecting to the SACP, which will contest the 4 November local government elections against the ANC. They told Eastern Cape MEC Zolile Williams that the ANC regional secretary ordered their pay stopped.

The councillors claim ANC regional secretary Vikita Dontsa told municipal manager Thando Jack Mdeni to advise payroll to end their salaries. This is their account, and the fact sheet gives no reply from Dontsa.

Former mayor Mamello Leteba said she and 13 other councillors were accused of campaigning for the SACP. She said the rumour made them unpopular in the ANC caucus.

The Elundini council has 34 councillors. Of these, 28 are from the ANC and six are from smaller opposition parties. Four councillors also took the municipality to court. They say their removal from the executive was unlawful and unfair.

Key facts

Who
Zolile Williams (Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC); Vikita Dontsa (ANC regional secretary); Thando Jack Mdeni (Elundini municipal manager); Mamello Leteba (former mayor and affected councillor)
What
Fourteen ANC councillors in Elundini Local Municipality were not paid their council salaries after being accused of defecting to the SACP, which will contest the 4 November local government elections against the ANC. The councillors told Eastern Cape MEC Zolile Williams that ANC regional secretary Vikita Dontsa instructed the municipal manager to have their salaries terminated; this is their…
When
27 October 2026
Where
Elundini Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, Makhanda
Status
Reported

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