The Mpumalanga government has withdrawn a controversial court case filed by former human settlements, cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Mandla Msibi.
The case was against Msibi’s ex-lover and former Mbombela chief financial officer, Delight Sibanyoni.
Their romantic and professional fallout continues to spill into political and legal corridors with far-reaching consequences.
Sibanyoni accused Msibi of abusing his government position to settle scores after their relationship ended bitterly.
She claimed the conflict escalated after she refused to approve tenders allegedly linked to his allies.
Sunday World has established that MEC Speedy Mashilo instructed the state attorney to withdraw the case in October 2024.
The withdrawal notice was only one page long and did not include any explanation for the decision.
Misrepresentation of her work experience
Msibi filed the original case in 2023, accusing Sibanyoni of misrepresenting her work experience during her appointment.
She responded with a blistering affidavit that exposed the emotional layers behind the legal dispute.
Sibanyoni stated Msibi’s actions were fuelled by heartbreak and professional bitterness, not governance concerns.
“The MEC is acting in bad faith,” she said in her affidavit filed with the court. “Our romantic relationship and acrimonious break-up make him ill-suited to bring the application,” she continued.
Sibanyoni claimed Msibi had turned against her only after she awarded a key tender to another company.
“The applicant was involved in my appointment but turned when his preferred company lost the contract,” she wrote.
Their relationship began in 2016 when Msibi was still the municipal speaker and ended two years later. Despite the split, they remain linked through their child and years of shared personal history.
The Mbombela council fired Sibanyoni in April due to issues raised in Msibi’s now-dropped complaint.
Dismissal challenged in court
Earlier in May, she approached the Mbombela High Court to urgently challenge her dismissal. Her legal challenge lists five respondents, including the mayor, speaker, and the current departmental MEC.
However, the court dismissed the urgency and ordered the matter be placed on the standard court roll.
Mashilo’s quiet legal withdrawal may now work in Sibanyoni’s favour as her case proceeds.
She contends that political interference and personal retaliation tainted the disciplinary process.
Msibi has retreated from provincial government but remains active within ANC branch structures. His 2024 suspension as ANC provincial treasurer forced him to step down from his MEC position.
Yet his support on the ground remains strong, worrying some of his political rivals.
With local government elections looming, his return could boost ANC voter numbers at the branch level.
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