By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The acting mayor of South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, Emmanuel Khamis Richard has been relieved of his duties after he was caught on camera slapping a woman.
His dismissal was announced by the governor of Central Equatoria state, a development that was widely reported over the weekend.
Richard had refused to resign despite mounting pressure from fellow politicians since footage of him appearing to assault the female street vendor went viral a week ago.
The governor acted after MPs had sent him a letter, unanimously requesting for immediate removal of the mayor from office.
The embattled mayor hasn’t admitted or denied slapping the woman.
Before he was sacked, he had been summoned to appear before councillors in Juba to answer for his actions, an invitation he ignored, instead requested a two-week reprieve.
No successor has yet been appointed.
Head of Juba city council, Martin Simon Wani, has however been ordered to supervise the general activities of the municipality for the time being.
