With the spate of resignations in South Africa’s political orbit, it may as well be said that South Africa has entered into a season of resignations. The latest to exit is Murunwa Makwarela, the mayor of Tshwane.
The embattled mayor had reportedly submitted an insolvency rehabilitation certificate to Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler. But the High Court claimed yesterday, Friday, that it never issued such a certificate.
Makwarela had thereafter resigned as councillor and mayor, insisting that his decision was never an admission of guilt but to protect his integrity.
His resignation was addressed to Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler. His resignation, he wrote, was to protect the image of the city and the image of the office he occupied. It also stemmed from his desire, he continued, for the city to focus on service delivery and “other critical businesses.”
His resignation has been a subject of great public interrogation, with some South Africans holding that it stemmed from his desire to protect himself from criminal investigation. After all, his resignation came barely two hours after the High Court denied ever issuing him or his wife an insolvency rehabilitation certificate.
It remains to be seen where the case would head from here
