Mayor Gerson Phetole Molapisane
In a major development for the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, the Polokwane High Court has officially dismissed the urgent application to interdict the motion of no confidence against Mayor Gerson Phetole Molapisane. This court ruling clears the way for the municipal council to proceed with the critical vote scheduled for today, May 25, 2026.
The legal battle had been at the centre of a tense political standoff, with the Mayor attempting to use the courts to stop the council from deciding his fate on Africa Day. However, the High Court was not convinced by the arguments presented by the applicant. In its ruling, the court stated clearly that there was no sense of urgency in interdicting the motion. The presiding judge emphasized that the motion is a matter of internal council procedure and that the court would not interfere in the day-to-day business of the local government.
The Council Takes the Lead
With the legal hurdle removed, the power to decide now rests entirely in the hands of the councillors. The motion of no confidence will proceed exactly as planned. This brings the Greater Tzaneen Municipality to a decisive moment, as councillors must now stand up and vote on whether Molapisane remains the head of the municipality or whether it is time for a new leadership.
While the court has refused to stop the motion, it did provide a pathway for the Mayor to seek justice later. The ruling noted that the Mayor still retains the right to utilise legal avenues to challenge the outcome of the council sitting if he believes that the reasons used to pass the motion lack a legal basis or sound justification. If the council votes to oust him today, Molapisane will have the option to approach a higher court to contest that decision.
A High Stakes Africa Day
The timing of this ruling could not be more significant. As the council gathers today on Africa Day, the political atmosphere is extremely charged. The coincidence of this showdown occurring on a day dedicated to African unity has highlighted the deep divisions currently affecting the ANC in the Norman Mashabane Region.
The council chamber is expected to be filled with uncertainty. Rumours of a possible rebellion by some ANC councillors, who may choose to defy their party’s regional leadership and vote to keep the Mayor in office, have been swirling all morning. At the same time, opposition parties have been closely watched to see if they will hold the balance of power during the vote.
As it stands, the Greater Tzaneen Municipality is on the edge of a leadership transition. Whether Mayor Molapisane survives this political storm or is voted out of office, the decision will be made by the councillors in the chamber today. The residents of Tzaneen are watching closely, waiting to see if this Africa Day will mark the end of a turbulent chapter or the beginning of an even deeper political crisis.