Irene Mutsila

Irene Mutsila (5 June 1949 – 29 July 2017) was a South African politician from Limpopo. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist and poet, she was the first woman mayor of Vhembe District Municipality from 2006 to 2007. Before that, she represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Council of Provinces from 1994 to 1999 and in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2004.

Irene Mutsila
Mayor of Vhembe
In office
March 2006 – July 2007
Succeeded byFalaza Mdaka
Member of the National Assembly
In office
June 1999 – April 2004
ConstituencyNorthern Province
Delegate to the National Council of Provinces
Assembly Member
for Northern Transvaal
In office
May 1994 – June 1999
Personal details
Born(1949-06-05)5 June 1949
Sibasa, Northern Transvaal
Union of South Africa
Died29 July 2017(2017-07-29) (aged 68)
Polokwane, Limpopo
Republic of South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Early life and activism

Mutsila was born on 5 June 1949[1] in Sibasa outside Thohoyandou in the former Northern Transvaal.[2] She was active in the anti-apartheid movement[3] and a veteran of the ANC Women's League.[2] She was also a poet and published in Staffrider.[4] After the end of apartheid, she served in the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC's Limpopo branch.[2]

Legislative career

In South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Mutsila was elected to an ANC seat in the Northern Transvaal caucus of the Senate (later the National Council of Provinces).[5] After a term there, she was elected to the National Assembly in the 1999 general election, again serving the Northern Transvaal (by then renamed Northern Province).

Mayor of Vhembe: 2006–2007

In mid-March 2006, after the 2006 local elections, Mutsila was elected as the first female[6] executive mayor of Limpopo's Vhembe District Municipality.[7][8] However, her relationship with the ANC-controlled municipal council quickly deteriorated into what a local newspaper called a "power struggle".[6] The situation worsened in May 2007, when she appointed a new municipal manager. Complaining that Mutsila had not consulted them before making the appointment, the council resolved to suspend her in late June 2007.[9][10]

The council subsequently alleged that the appointment of the municipal manager had been corrupt and grossly irregular.[11] In addition, it said that Mutsila had defied the council's instruction to her to revoke the appointment.[6] In late July 2007, the council passed a motion of no-confidence in Mutsila, removing her from office and replacing her with ANC regional chairperson Falaza Mdaka.[11]

Death

Mutsila died on 29 July 2017 at a private hospital in Polokwane following a short illness.[2][3] President Jacob Zuma granted her a special provincial official funeral.[12]

References
  1. "General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 408, no. 20203. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. "Former executive mayor of Vhembe, Ms Irene Mutsila, passes away". Limpopo Mirror. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. "President Zuma declares Special Provincial Official Funeral for struggle activist, Ms Mutsila". The Presidency. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. "Staffrider Volume 2 No. 4". South African History Online. 1979. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  5. South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994. International Republican Institute. 1994. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via Yumpu.
  6. "Mdaka in Mutsila's shoes". Zoutpansberger. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. "Cllr Mahasela inaugurated as new mayor". Zoutnet. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  8. "Woman in driving seat at Makhado". Zoutnet. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  9. "Dispute over appointment of manager". Sowetan. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. "Axed manager wants job back". Sowetan. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  11. "Council manager improperly placed". Sowetan. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  12. Motau, Koketšo (5 August 2017). "Zuma declares special provincial official funeral for Mutsila". EWN. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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