DA submits votes of no confidence
THE DA has, for the second time, submitted a motion of no confidence in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) mayor Lindiwe Gunuza Nkwentsha.
The DA’s motion includes speaker Mzoxolo Peter and follows a similar motion earlier this year which EMLM DA caucus leader Chris de Wet said was ignored by Peter and omitted from the agenda for the next council meeting.
The EFF also indicated a vote of no confidence in Gunuza Nkwentsha in May this year.
DA councillors Malibongwe Xhelisilo and Sakhumzi Mkhunkqe on Monday handed over a motion of no confidence addressed to EMLM acting municipal manager Mzoxolo Dingani at the town hall.
The motion has called on Gunuza-Nkwentsha to relinquish her duties as mayor of EMLM and Peter to give up his duties as speaker and step down.
The motion also asked for the matter to be included on the agenda of the next council meeting.
It was requested that, if both refused to step down, a vote of no confidence be taken by council with the immediate election of an acting mayor and speaker to be carried out on an open platform.
Xhelisilo said EMLM was being led by two gangsters.
“Due to their arrogance which has led to instability and chaos, EMLM received correspondence from cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa on November 10 regarding the notice of intention to invoke section 139 (A) of the constitution [which would see the municipality placed under provincial administration].
“EMLM has depleted its budget and is struggling or can not afford to pay its creditors together with payment of municipal salaries for staff and councillors. We remind them that EMLM was identified as an economic hub. Their chaos is chasing away investors.”
Xhelisilo said the ANC had admitted that it had failed the people of EMLM by giving them an ANC-led council and he recognised this as a confession when EMLM had received the notice of intention to invoke section 139 (A).
As the ANC-led council had declined the proposed provincial solution, it meant that they were focusing on themselves instead of the people of the municipal area.
“We have only had two ordinary council meetings since the amalgamation of the municipalities into EMLM. The rest have been special council meetings where people are not allowed to enter.
“This prohibits people from knowing how they are running the municipality.
“The speaker has failed to hold the executive accountable for this. We call on chapter 7 of the constitution where services are not being delivered and ask for the council to be dissolved.”
In the motion, the DA said the constitution’s section 152 promoted democratic and accountable government for communities to ensure the provision of service in a sustainable manner, to promote social and economic development, to promote a healthy environment, and to encourage the involvement of communities and organisations in matters of local government.
The Batho Pele principles also promoted transparency and openness in public administration.
EFF councillor Luthando Amos confirmed that the party had submitted a motion of no confidence against Gunuza Nkwentsha on March 14.
“The DA added spice (to it) by requesting the speaker to step down. The EFF has a caucus and will be able to comment on the speaker after that. However, in my view as the whip of the EFF, it would be best for council to get rid of the mayor, speaker and the chief whip (Funeka Sopapazi).”
Amos said the municipality should bring in new people who were focused on development.
EMLM spokesman Fundile Feketshane said, “Every motion that is delivered has to follow due Council processes according to the Rules of Order.
“Once such a motion arrives in the office of the Speaker, the office of the MM shall advise accordingly like any other motion that has been handled in the past.”