Ekurhuleni parties urge speaker to call meeting

Political parties in the Ekurhuleni council are expected to announce their next move to force the speaker, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, to convene an extraordinary council meeting to elect a new mayor.

This comes after Tshivhenga sent a notice to councillors on Wednesday night informing them that the meeting was postponed because of unforeseen circumstances.

ActionSA caucus leader Siyanda Makhubo told The Citizen his party and other opposition parties would be meeting to explore legal action against Tshivhenga.

“ActionSA will be meeting other concerned party leaders to explore legal options and the possibility of the city manager, who as per the Municipal Systems Act, read together with the Structures Act, where after a majority of councillors [113] have petitioned the speaker to preside over the extraordinary council meeting,” Makhubo said.

This was not the first time that opposition parties have had to come together to challenge the speaker.

Tshivhenga has been accused of representing the interests of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in council more than those of the residents.

“It follows, therefore, that the speaker has consequently transgressed both the law and violated council resolutions,” Makhubo said.

“This illegal decision again highlights councillor Tshivhenga’s complete disregard for council procedures and the EFF’s determination to undermine every democratic process in council which does not suit them.”

Makhubo said the City of Ekurhuleni has experienced poor service delivery since the ANC-EFF coalition materialised. He also accused Tshivhenga of acting illegally and without regard for the residents.

“The unilateral decision of the speaker is an illegal decision that not only violates a council resolution to convene within seven days, but also rule 35 (6) of the Standing Rules of Council, that affords the speaker the right to postpone or cancel a council meeting 72 hours before a scheduled meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it would continue to call for fresh elections in Ekurhuleni.

DA’s former mayor, Tania Campbell, said in a statement she believed a dissolution of council was the only way to save the municipality from collapse.

There had been fears that the municipality would be put under administration if the political situation did not stabilise.

Both the ANC and the EFF were mum about their preferred candidate for the mayorship but there had been reports that the two parties were still in negotiations.