Mayor of Tshwane says he will resign

The mayor of South Africa’s Tshwane municipality, which includes the capital, Pretoria, said he will resign this month to end political wrangling over his continued presence in office.

Stevens Mokgalapa, a member of the main opposition Democratic Alliance, has faced pressure to quit since a leaked audio tape indicated that he allegedly disparaged officials in a conversation with a mayoral council member. His own party placed him on leave in December and the Economic Freedom Fighters, which forms part of a loose coalition that governs the city, called for him to go.

“I wish to make clear that I have not broken any laws and am confident that I would emerge positively from any assessment of my conduct,” Mokgalapa said in an emailed statement. “But in the end, I have concluded that it is best for the city if I stand down as mayor.”

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