Johannesburg - The Gauteng African National Congress (ANC) on Monday said it had accepted disgraced Emfuleni mayor Simon Mofokeng's resignation.
Mofokeng resigned from his post as mayor and councillor on Monday afternoon after he was placed on special leave for sending a picture of a semi-naked 14-year-old he was allegedly grooming for sex to a WhatsAPP group of ANC leaders named “Festival of Ideas”.
The incident has since sparked outrage, with numerous parties calling for Mofokeng to be axed.
The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in a statement said it accepted Mofokeng's decision to resign.
"After internal organisational processes by the Provincial Office Bearers, further decisions will be announced," the party said.
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The DA's Gauteng Constituency Head for Emfuleni North Kingsol Chabalala meanwhile, said Mofokeng's resignation was a victory for residents.
"This is a victory for the residents of Emfuleni... Mofokeng’s resignation can be seen as an admission of guilt."
Emfuleni’s poorest communities have been hardest hit by the maladministration of Mofokeng for years as he ran the municipality into the ground.
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Furthermore, Chabalala said the people of Emfuleni had been desperately waiting "for a well deserved new beginning".