Mayor crosses the line – ANC

The ANC Johannesburg Region are accusing the city’s mayor, Herman Mashaba, pictured, of breaking council rules by making public that the party had filed a no-confidence motion against him.

“Mayor Mashaba has issued a media statement on the two motions submitted by the ANC Joburg caucus; one being a motion of no confidence on the mayor, councillor Mashaba, and the other a motion of no confidence on the speaker of council, councillor Vasco da Gama,” said ANC regional spokesperson Jolidee Matongo yesterday.

“Council rules state that documents remain embargoed until they are deliberated on at a council meeting, which is open to the public or immediately after discussions at the council meeting.

“The ANC will write to the speaker today to request he refer mayor Mashaba to the ethics committee for disciplinary action for contravening the rules of council.”

Mashaba, a member of the DA, said the ANC filed the no-confidence motion against him on Wednesday for the council meeting on September 26 and 27. “After only 13 months in office, this move should be dismissed as the antics of a desperate party trying to come to terms with its new role in opposition,” he added.

He said the ANC cited financial distress in the city as the primary basis of the motion.

The ANC retorted: “The merits of the motions will be tabled at the council meeting. We advise mayor Mashaba to reserve his arguments for the meeting.” – ANA