MIDDELBURG — Former Steve Tshwete Local Municipality mayor Diphale Motsepe has officially joined the newly formed Service Delivery Party (SDP), citing failures in governance, accountability and service delivery.
Motsepe, who previously served in both the African National Congress (ANC) Veterans League and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), resigned from the ANC on Thursday, 09 April 2026. He was officially unveiled as an SDP member on the same day during a media briefing held at Phetshile Guest House in Middelburg.
“The continued deterioration in governance standards, failure to prioritise the needs of our communities, and the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions have compelled me to take this difficult decision,” Motsepe said in his resignation letter.
“As a former public representative, I hold firm the belief that leadership must always be exercised in a manner that promotes transparency, service delivery and the dignity of our people. Regrettably, these foundational principles are no longer consistently upheld.”
Motsepe assumed office as mayor in March 2021 following the passing of former mayor Bagudi ‘Tsietsi’ Tolo. His tenure ended in November 2021 when Mhlonishwa Masilela was elected mayor after the local government elections.
Former Ward 18 councillor Thabo Motsepe has also joined the party.
SDP convenor for Steve Tshwete, Njabulo Nhlapho, said Motsepe brings a deep understanding of municipal governance and a solid record of executive leadership. He added that Motsepe’s move reinforces the party’s commitment to breaking away from partisan gridlock.
“While his experience strengthens our presence, our prospects are driven by the ‘Pioneer’ model, where we empower leaders with the technical and managerial acumen to deliver results,” Nhlapho said.
“Mr Motsepe’s background aligns perfectly with our requirement for leadership that understands the legislative complexities of the MFMA and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
He said residents could expect a shift from “ruling to serving”.
Nhlapho said the SDP, established this year, is focused on three priorities: maintenance-first infrastructure, Local Economic Development (LED), and accountability.
“We recognise that the infrastructure exists; our priority is the rigorous maintenance of our water and electricity networks to prevent collapse. We will use evidence-based planning to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure reliable services.
“We will champion a people-centred economy that prioritises local investment. This means ensuring our town is an attractive destination for capital by providing stable services and integrating local SMMEs and cooperatives directly into the municipal supply chain,” he said.
“Our representatives are bound by a decentralised autonomic model. They have the freedom to solve local problems immediately but are subject to strict, independent performance audits to ensure every cent of the maintenance budget is accounted for.”
Nhlapho said party members have already begun campaigning on the ground.
“We don’t believe in traditional top-down campaigning; instead, our members are active on the ground, identifying service delivery failures and engaging directly with ward-level needs,” he said.
He said he was not at liberty to name the party’s mayoral candidate for Steve Tshwete, adding that the party will follow a merit-based selection process.
“We prioritise candidates with documented expertise in local governance, law and management,” he said.
“Our candidate list will be announced in due course, reflecting our commitment to leadership excellence.”
