Secret ballot not warranted, says DA

There are no threats against councillors in City

The City of Johannesburg has defended its decision to reject the ANC Johannesburg caucus’ call for motions of no confidence against mayor Herman Mashaba and council speaker Vasco da Gama to be done via a secret ballot, saying there is no intimidation.

This is in stark contrast to the situation in parliament where there was open intimidation of MPs, such as ANC MP Makhosi Khoza, who even received death threats after she said she would vote against President Jacob Zuma in a motion of no confidence against him last month.

Mashaba’s legal advisor Tony TavernaTurisan told Sowetan yesterday there was no reported intimidation of councillors in the City of Johannesburg and a secret ballot was not warranted.

“On top of this, the Standing Rules of Council in the City of Joburg do not provide for a secret ballot. Again this is in stark contrast to national parliament. Therefore, unless the Rules of Council are amended, a motion of no confidence cannot be held by secret ballot,” he said. In yesterday’s edition, in a story headlined “Ramaphosa lauded at unity rally”, we incorrectly stated that businessman Robert Gumede was a chief lobbyist for Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza and

The ANC Johannesburg caucus want the two motions of no confidence in Mashaba and Da Gama conducted through a secret ballot to protect DA councillors who choose to break ranks.

The motions were scheduled to be debated and voted on next week.

The ANC Johannesburg caucus approached the Gauteng Division of the High Court last week after the DA-led council refused to place the two motions for the removal of Mashaba and Da Gama on a municipal council agenda. It also refused to allow a secret ballot.

Taverna-Turisan said the City of Johannesburg would welcome the opportunity to defend a motion of no confidence in council.

“The ANC is welcome to file a motion of no confidence and this will be expeditiously considered by the programming committee. The problem is not with the motion of no confidence, but rather other recommendations requested in the motion which are irrational and outside of the laws governing council.”

ANC Johannesburg region spokesman Jolidee Matongo said Mashaba and Da Gama were voted in using a secret ballot. “When we voted the mayor and speaker we used a secret ballot. We don’t think voting to remove the mayor and speaker should be different.”

Matter of fact

that he attended an ANC meeting in Mbombela where he played a video. Gumede was not at the meeting.

We regret the error and apologise to Gumede.