Meeting to debate no-confidence motion in Tshwane speaker adjourned

The Tshwane council meeting intended to debate a motion of no confidence in speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana has been adjourned after the dismissal of a court application to prevent him presiding over the meeting.

The DA-led multiparty coalition had approached the high court in Pretoria to ensure Ndzwanana did not call yesterday’s special council meeting, chair it, adjourn it or interfere with the motion of no confidence against him.

The coalition partners wanted city manager Johann Mettler to chair the meeting.

DA councillor Jacqui Uys said though it noted that the court had denied its application for Ndzwanana not to chair the meeting, the reasoning behind the application remained.

“While you are chairing the meeting and while we are abiding by your rulings, please follow the rules of this country,” she said.

EFF regional chair Obakeng Ramabodu said there was no basis for the DA to take councillors to court.

“You went to court and claimed to a judge that we are violent,” Ramabodu said.

“The judge told you where to get off. Allow Ndzwanana to chair this meeting, as ruled by the court.”

In his responding papers, Ndzwanana, an African Transformation Movement councillor, said the applicants had only alleged the EFF had threatened to disrupt proceedings but could not cite anything as to his conduct.

Ndzwanana said he would not allow councillors to raise points and motivations that had already been raised and dismissed in court.

“The court allowed me to chair this meeting.

“The points you are raising were raised in court and they were dismissed.

“So I am going to preside over this meeting.

“I will follow the rules and not your feelings.”

Ndzwanana then adjourned the meeting.

The council is to meet again today to table, discuss and adopt the adjustments budget.