Tshwane MMC Sheila Senkubuge resigns after ‘sex scandal’

The City of Tshwane’s Roads and Transport MMC Sheila Senkubuge, who lies at the center of a sex scandal with Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa, has resigned.

In her four page resignation letter, Senkubuge said she was stepping down as MMC and as PR Councillor and noted there had been attempts to “vilify” her and remove focus from her work in office.

“In light of recent events, and despite the many successes, it has become clear that attempts to vilify me are taking focus away from the purpose of my role in office. This will in turn inevitably affect service delivery to our residents”, she said.

“Therefore, as much as it is with regret that I tender my resignation with immediate effect, I do so in order to not betray the spirit, the struggle and the sacrifice that our forebears made and the charge they gave us, which is to always put our people first, as articulated in the Batho Pele principles.”

Sheila Senkubuge’s resignation and Stevens Mokgalapa ‘special leave’

On Sunday, 24 November 2019, a 30 minute-long audio clip, purporting to be of a conversation between the pair, was leaked online. The recording suggested there was a sexual relationship between them and immediately prompted calls by the ANC and DA in Tshwane for the DA Mayor to step down. They can also be heard mocking some of their colleagues.

In the wake of the controversy, Mokgalapa was placed on special leave and on Thursday, 28 November 2019, a motion of no confidence against him failed. The DA appointed Abel Tau as acting mayor while the party gets to the bottom of the allegations.

The scandal-plagued mayor has subsequently laid extortion and blackmail charges against four suspended officials.

“The DA is committed to provide clean governance and will act appropriately when such serious allegations arise,” said DA Gauteng leader John Moodey.