Tswaing Local Municipality Mayor on Sick Leave After Explicit Tape Leaks, SA Abuzz

• The Tswaing Local Municipality mayor in the North West is in hot water after an explicit video of hers went viral
• The mayor accidentally sent the video to an African National Congress WhatsApp video
• She took sick leave after the clip went viral and South Africans laughed at her and recalled other ANC members who trended for the same thing

Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, provided local and international political analysis and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his nine years of experience.

NORTH WEST — Norah Mahlangu, the mayor of the Tswaing Local Municipality in the North West, took sick leave after an explicit video she accidentally sent to the African National Congress's provincial structures' WhatsApp group was leaked onto the internet.

What happened in the North West?

According to The Citizen, Mahlangu is a mayor of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District. She took one month's leave after a video of her in compromising positions went viral on 17 February 2025. She is also allegedly investigating the video and is consulting law enforcement after it was leaked. Meanwhile, Nkegisang Joseph was appointed the interim mayor until her return to work.

Read also

SA celebrates as Gauteng Liquor Board suspends Zanzou liquor licence which was operating illegally

Other similar ANC incidents

Mahlangu is not the only member of the ANC that went viral for finding themselves in embarrassing situations. The former Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba went viral in 2018 after a video of him playing with himself was leaked. It was then loaded onto adult websites. He initially claimed that he meant to send it to his wife, but later admitted that it was not meant for her.

Free State Legislature member Zanele Sifuba, who is a member of the ANC, opened a case in 2022 after a video of her engaging in sexual acts went viral. The other participant, allegedly a Nigerian man, tried to extort R300,000 from her and she refused to pay.

ANC response to Mahlangu scandal

The ANC placed Mahlangu on special leave pending an investigation, which provincial secretary Louis Diremelo communicated through a scathing letter.

Read also

Zanzou: former bouncer responsible for leaking videos begs government for protection in viral video

Diremelo, who confirmed becoming aware of the explicit material on 12 February, slammed Mahlangu's conduct, saying it detracted from a deployee's character, values and integrity.

He said the immoral and indecent material, widely circulated on social media, had brought the organisation into disrepute.

"[Consequently], you are directed to take a special leave. This will allow the organisation to [undertake] an investigation [into] the circumstances that led to the leakage of the immoral and indecent video," said Diremelo.

Under the conditions of her special leave, Mahlangu must not report for duty or visit the municipal premises, unless the Chief Whip invites her to attend a council sitting.

Recent North West News

• A member of the South African Police Service died in an accident in the North West on 26 January after she lost control of the state vehicle she, her colleague and three others were driving in
• A Zimbabwean national appeared in court four days later in the Mmabatho Magistrates Court after he was arrested for using fraudulent papers to secure a top job in the North West provincial government
• A woman from the North West was arrested in Gauteng and appeared in court in November 2024 for allegedly selling her child

Read also

Zanzou ex-shareholder distances himself from the club as issues of noncompliance emerge

What did South Africans say?

South Africans commenting on @PSAFLIVE's X tweet roasted the mayor and other ANC members.

Born Queen said:

"ANC members need to do Only Fans and leave politics alone."

Habile said:

"She did it on purpose. It can't be that you mistakenly share that."

Nozi said:

"I'm so embarrassed on behalf of her kids, family and partner if she has one."

Van Tonder said:

"That's so disgusting you. Some things are better seen by their partners only."

Phezulwana said:

"Regardless of her position, she's a human being who deserves dignity and respect, not humiliation."

North West girl found in shallow grave beaten to death

In another North West-relayed article, Briefly News reported that a 16-year-old girl was found in a shallow grave in the north West in January after she was allegedly beaten to death.

Read also

MK Party movement tries to stop Zanzou club management truck from collecting booze

Members of the community called the police after they saw someone pushing a wheelbarrow with a heavy object inside. Police investigated and found the victim's body in a shallow grave.

Source: Briefly News