The Municipal Manager, Donald Mhangwana, is leaving his post.
The halls of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality are usually busy with the work of local government. However, a sudden silence fell over the offices this week. The news has spread fast. The Municipal Manager, Mr. Donald Mhangwana, is leaving his post. His departure comes at a very sensitive time for the region. South Africa is preparing for the 2026 Local Government Elections. In the world of politics, this is a season of great change and even greater uncertainty.
For high level executives like Municipal Managers, the end of a political term is often a time of worry. When new political leaders are elected, they often want to bring in their own people. They prefer to work with executives who are loyal to their specific vision. This means that those who served under the “old regime” often find themselves looking for a way out before the pressure builds. This is exactly what appears to be happening in Tzaneen.
Mr. Mhangwana is not the first to take this path. The people of Greater Tzaneen remember a similar situation with a former manager, Serapelo Matlala. When the political winds began to shift, Mr. Matlala did not wait to see what would happen. He resigned with immediate effect. Now, history seems to be repeating itself. Mr. Mhangwana is reportedly heading for safer and more certain pastures. Sources say he will join the Tshwane Metro at the beginning of May. By moving to a different metro before the local elections, he is securing his future in a stable environment.
The official word came during a Council meeting held on April 23, 2026. The meeting took place at the Old Fire Hall. It was a formal moment where the Council noted the resignation of a man who has led the municipality since April 2022. During his four years in charge, Mr. Mhangwana built a reputation for excellence. He leaves behind a legacy that many people in the community will remember for a long time.
Mayor Gerson Molapisane spoke warmly about the outgoing manager. He expressed his sincere appreciation for the work done over the last few years. The Mayor noted that under the leadership of Mr. Mhangwana, the municipality became much stronger. The financial systems and the way the town is governed improved significantly. The Mayor thanked him for his dedication to the people of Greater Tzaneen and wished him well in his future endeavours.
When people look back at Mr. Mhangwana’s time in office, the numbers tell a strong story. The municipality consistently showed that it was handling its money well. For four years in a row, Greater Tzaneen received unqualified audit outcomes. This is a major achievement in South African local government. It shows that the books were in order and that there was no corruption in the financial reporting. These results were even recognized at the SALGA Limpopo Municipal Audit Awards.
Beyond just the paperwork, Mr. Mhangwana changed the culture inside the municipal offices. He wanted the employees to feel proud of where they worked. He introduced annual Heritage Day celebrations where staff could celebrate their different cultures together. He also started Employee Wellness Days. These events allowed staff to play sports and focus on their health. This helped build a sense of teamwork and boosted the morale of the people who keep the city running.
The municipality also managed to spend all of its Municipal Infrastructure Grant money. This is important because it means that money meant for the people was actually used for the people. They also stopped making unauthorized payments and began producing their own financial statements instead of hiring outside companies to do it. This proved that the local staff had become more capable and skilled.
The success of the town was noticed far beyond the borders of Limpopo. The South African Property Owners Association named Tzaneen the best performing municipality in the province for supporting the property sector. Even more impressively, it was named the cleanest municipality in all of South Africa. It also won top prizes in the Greenest Municipality Competition in Limpopo.
Perhaps the most important part of his legacy is what people can see on the streets. During his tenure, road repairs became a priority. Work was done in all five towns and across all 35 wards. New lights were installed, small bridges were built, and sports facilities were developed. It was a time of visible growth.
Now, a new chapter begins. To ensure things keep running smoothly, the Council has appointed Mr. Freedom Mthethwa as the Acting Municipal Manager. He will take over on May 1, 2026, for a period of three months. Mr. Mthethwa is currently the Director of Electrical Engineering. He joined the municipality in August 2022 and has a lot of experience from his time at Eskom and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
While the search for a permanent manager begins, Tzaneen stands on a firm foundation. The “jump” of Mr. Mhangwana might be a sign of political tension, but the work he did has left the municipality in a strong position to face whatever the 2026 elections might bring.
Freedom Mthethwa, the Acting Municipal Manager of GTM.