ANC bid to remove Da Gama hits a snag
THE ANC was left fuming yesterday after its motion of no confidence against Joburg Council speaker Vasco da Gama was controversially blocked by the DA.
Presiding officer Alex Christians, who chairs council, rejected the motion despite it being supported by the majority of councillors present.
The rejection was due to a disagreement over the contentious interpretation of what consists a majority vote.
The events that unfolded yesterday come barely a day after the DA-led coalition government was booted out of power by the ANC. Geoff Makhubo, ANC regional leader, was elected mayor.
Out of the 268 councillors who voted, Makhubo obtained 137 votes, while the DA’s Funzela Ngobeni received 101 votes and the EFF’s Musa Novela 30.
Political parties who supported the ANC in securing a win for Makhubo included the DA’s coalition partners the IFP, Cope, PA and UDM.
Political parties spent the better part of yesterday dealing with the motion against Da Gama.
Up to 135 of the 264 councillors present in the council yesterday voted for his removal, while 99 opposed the motion.
All 30 EFF councillors abstained from voting.
While a clear majority of councillors voted for Da Gama to be booted out, the DA rejected the outcome, saying rules set down in the Municipal Structures Act were clear that the speaker could only be removed by the majority of the 270 seats in council.
This means that for the motion to succeed, according to the DA, 136 councillors have to vote against Da Gama
Makhubo said the ANC and its coalition partners no longer considered Da Gama as speaker as the majority of councillors rejected him.
“In our view, the City of Joburg does not have a speaker – the speaker was voted out. We have proof and precedence that there have been motions before that can be carried with 127 and 122 (votes), and these motions have been acted on,” Makhubo said.
He accused the DA of desperately refusing to accept defeat, saying the ANC would ensure Da Gama’s removal next week.
“We are consulting with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Lebogang Maile and city manager Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni. We are electing a new speaker next week Wednesday,” he said.
But Da Gama defended his party, saying it had acted within the rules.
“Motions in council are controlled by a majority. The majority with motions is not members present, but 50% plus one of the total number of seats, which is 270,” Da Gama said.
Meanwhile, Makhubo said he would announce his new coalition government with the parties that supported him in mayoral elections before the weekend.