GMM councillors engage in a circus of insults

Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa

10 February 2025

Govan Mbeki Municipality Speaker of the Council, Fikile Magagamela, and EFF Party Whip, Nthabeleng Mtahane, hurled insults in front of an audience outside the council chamber.

The incident occurred on Thursday, 06 February 2025. The tension between the two was said to have begun inside the chamber during the special council meeting to table an amended financial recovery plan for Govan Mbeki Municipality.

According to some members of the council, the item that stirred the tension between them was the last one that spoke about the township bylaws.

It is alleged that after the meeting, Cllr Mtahane made a mean statement towards Cllr Magagamela. The speaker responded, and an exchange of words began.

Mtahane was told she lacks hygiene, ‘Hambo geza wena! (Go and bathe!), Magagamela’s voice echoed like a rumble of thunder.

The EFF Whip refused to back down and retorted with a sharp barb of her own, “At least I don’t sleep with men to get high positions! Mina angilali nama doda for power!

The air was crackling with tension as the audience listened to hear more. Some EFF members and law enforcement officers stepped in to stop the two who were about to engage in a physical fight but continued to exchange words, going in different directions.

While everyone thought the circus was over, Cllr Mtahane marched to Secunda Police Station to open an assault case against the speaker.

The EFF in Mpumalanga also did not waste time to release a media statement demanding a full investigation of the incident and for justice to restore the dignity of Cllr Mtahane.

The EFF also believes that such conduct is completely unacceptable, and no individual, regardless of their position of power, should resort to assaulting other council members.

The office of the speaker was contacted for a comment but said she could not comment because a case had been opened already.