Opposition boycott meeting

Council speaker accused of bias

The DA‚ EFF and IFP yesterday boycotted the eThekwini municipality’s council meeting‚ accusing speaker William Mapena of breaching the rules to allow ANC councillors to attend the governing party’s policy conference this weekend.

The meeting – held monthly – was scheduled for Thursday, but on Monday a text message was sent out informing councillors that it had been moved forward by a day. This left opposition parties fuming‚ and three of them refused to attend.

The meeting went ahead despite the boycott‚ with the ANC holding an overwhelming majority in council.

“This decision [to boycott] comes after … Mapena violated section 6(2) of the council’s Rules of Order‚ which requires that councillors be given a 72hour notice on the changes of scheduled council meetings. Changing the dates at such short notice is irresponsible‚ misleading and restricts the members of the public from partaking in matters of council‚” said DA’s Sharon Hoosen.

‘‘ The claims that processes were not followed are not true

But Mapena denied any wrongdoing. “All due processes were followed to change the date of the full council meeting from Thursday to today‚” Mapena said.

In a statement responding to questions‚ he admitted that “the majority of councillors” – about 115 – had requested the meeting to be postponed or moved to another date.

He said all processes had been followed and the decision was above-board. “The claims that processes were not followed are untrue.

“I have not violated any rules. As the speaker‚ when councillors make a request to me I must respond to them. Changing the date of the meeting was not a political decision. Obviously councillors are from political parties who requested the change of date, but it was not for a few councillors.”

Mayor Zandile Gumede also backed Mapena.