The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday appointed councillor Abel Tau as acting mayor of Tshwane municipality after mayor Stevens Mokgalapa took special leave following an audio recording of him allegedly having sex with a council official which went viral on social media.

In a statement, the DA said Mokgalapa had stepped aside to allow its federal legal commission to conclude its investigation into the allegations of impropriety against him and member of the mayoral committee for roads and transport Stella Senkubuge.

Tau has been serving as a member of the city’s mayoral committee for utilities since March 2019.

"Together with his mayoral team, he will continue to deliver efficient basic services to the residents of Tshwane and ensure that other services rendered to residents are not affected," the party said.