The political landscape of the City of Ekurhuleni has been significantly reshaped by Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s recent mayoral committee reshuffle, which officially came into effect on 17 February 2026. The announcement, delivered in a late-night statement, initially indicated the inclusion of ActionSA’s Xolani Khumalo, signaling a potential shift in the city’s executive composition. However, this proposed inclusion was swiftly and emphatically rejected by ActionSA.

Mayor Xhakaza asserted that the extensive changes were made following detailed consultations with thirteen of the sixteen political parties represented in the Council. He further clarified that an agreed Ekurhuleni Governance Framework would now serve as the guiding principle for the executive’s operations. This framework, according to the Mayor, is designed to bolster a sustainable Ekurhuleni Government of Local Unity (EGLU) and foster stability within the existing coalition arrangement.

The governance framework, as elucidated by Xhakaza, is underpinned by a common minimum programme focused on achieving measurable service delivery and development targets. It mandates coalition partners to adhere to a set of shared values, including stability, accountability, ethics, integrity, community participation, good governance, and unwavering respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. The framework also champions principles of social justice, equity, human dignity, non-racialism, and non-sexism, with a core emphasis on cohesion, stability, and a people-centred approach to governance, driven by responsive service delivery.

The new executive structure unveiled by Mayor Xhakaza detailed the following appointments and their respective portfolios: Cllr Jean Sthato for Metro Utilities (Trading) Services; Cllr Nomadlozi Nkosi for Metro Operations and Maintenance; Cllr Leshaka Manamela for Human Settlements; Cllr Dino Peterson for Development Planning and Real Estate; Cllr Lindiwe Mnguni for Roads and Transport; Cllr Xolani Khumalo for Community Services and By-Law Enforcement; Cllr Mzayifani Ngwenya for Community Safety; Cllr Siphumule Ntombela for Corporate Shared Services; Cllr Thembi Msane for Infrastructure and Economic Development Agency (EDA); and Cllr Jongizizwe Dlabathi for Finance and Strategy.

Despite the Mayor's pronouncements of aiming for stability, the reshuffle immediately triggered significant political fallout and rejections from key parties. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) unequivocally declined all offers of new mayoral committee (MMC) positions, stating their firm decision to occupy the opposition benches. In a formal statement, the EFF sharply criticized Mayor Xhakaza for what they described as the unilateral removal of their councillors: Bridget Thusi from Community Services and Kgopello Hollo from Human Settlements. A major point of contention for the EFF was the decision to transfer Thembi Msane’s critical Water and Sanitation responsibilities to the newly formed Metro Utilities (Trading) Services portfolio, now under the leadership of an ANC councillor, Jean Sthato. The EFF denounced this as an “irresponsible move” that they believe undermines their previous efforts in maintaining and improving water infrastructure, posing a tangible risk to the city’s water services. They drew a parallel to the earlier removal of an EFF MMC from the finance portfolio in 2024, which they claimed had jeopardized the city’s financial stability. The EFF further highlighted that Xhakaza had refused to fill the Speaker vacancy with an EFF councillor, a position they asserted was agreed upon in previous negotiations. These grievances are set against the backdrop of the EFF’s broader decision to withdraw its support for the ANC in both the Ekurhuleni council and the Gauteng provincial legislature, citing a persistent lack of consultation and feeling treated as a “junior partner” rather than an equal participant in governance since the 2021 local government elections.

Adding to the political turmoil, ActionSA also issued a categorical rejection of Mayor Xhakaza’s reshuffled committee. They formally withdrew their member, Xolani Khumalo, from the proposed Community Services and By-Law Enforcement portfolio and vehemently denied any prior arrangement with Xhakaza, labeling such suggestions as “entirely fabricated.” ActionSA stated that they had consistently refused invitations to join the committee. Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA, articulated the party’s reasoning, citing “ongoing instability and the collapse of basic municipal services” in Ekurhuleni. He firmly declared that ActionSA would “not lend credibility to an administration that has overseen the lawless deterioration of service delivery that continues to cripple the city.” Notably, Xolani Khumalo, who was initially earmarked for the MMC position, is also ActionSA's mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni in the forthcoming local government elections.

This significant political upheaval clearly highlights the deep-seated tensions and discord within Ekurhuleni’s multi-party coalition. Both the EFF and ActionSA have conveyed their profound dissatisfaction with the current governance model and the handling of the mayoral committee reshuffle. While the ANC has acknowledged the existing tensions, it has not yet provided specific comments on the respective parties' refusal to join the executive.