“The reinstatement doesn’t necessarily mean Sikhundla is back on full-term as the council still has processes and reporting requirements regarding the matter,”
Zamile Sikhundla, the former Municipal Manager of Alfred Nzo District Municipality, has been reinstated to his position. This decision follows a ruling by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council that ruled in his favour, directing him back to the office effective September 10, 2025.
Sikhundla was suspended from his role as municipal manager on December 28, 2023. He was subsequently dismissed on November 4, 2024, after being found guilty of multiple charges by his employer. Among those charges were bringing the employer into dispute, facing charges related to serious criminal cases, failure to ensure spending of government-allocated funds and implications for projects, and failure to implement council resolutions.
However the Alfred Nzo District Municipality Head of Communications Luncedo Walaza confirmed his reinstatement by the Bargaining Council, but the judgement was taken through the council processes to allow them to review it as the decision to suspend Zamile Sikhundla came from the council. “ We have received the latter and we gave it our lawyers to advice, the reinstatement doesn’t necessarily mean Sikhundla is back on full-term as the council still has processes and reporting requirements regarding the matter,” explained Walaza. Speaking with Sikhundla, he confirmed that the leadership has accepted the letter of his reinstatement, and he is back at work as usual.
According to the ANC Regional Spokesperson Lungisile Mzanywa, the party has directed the municipality to withdraw cases against Sikhundla and other senior managers. “This move aims to prevent further depletion of the municipality’s financial resources on legal battles, allowing funds to be directed towards service delivery instead,” said Mzanywa. The spokesperson emphasized that withdrawing these cases is part of restoring stability in the municipality.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance in Alfred Nzo region has expressed their views, saying it was long overdue and they are welcoming Sikhundla back to his office. They believe this was long overdue and it was a waste of money that is meant to be used for service delivery purposes. They also say that all the councillors who were present during that council meeting that took a decision to suspend him must account in terms of paying the court fees from their own pockets. “There is an attendance register that was used, and I believe councillors who were present during that council meeting should pay from their own pockets,” said Wonga Potwana.
