Update, 23 February 2017, 5pm
“Today, the ANC [African National Congress] staged an orchestrated attack on our democracy under the auspices of their front organisation, the Johannesburg Social Movement.”
This is what Mayor Herman Mashaba said in a press release shortly after chaos erupted at the 23 February Council sitting.
“This was a blatant attempt to prevent Council from passing the adjustment budget and bringing change to the residents of Joburg. We will not be deterred, the people’s business will be done. I condemn the violence that has broken out at the Johannesburg Council in the strongest terms; it has no place in our democracy,” he said.
Mashaba said he will lay criminal charges at the Johannesburg Central Police Station tomorrow morning.
” Today’s protest was clearly organised by the ANC in a bid to derail Council proceedings. The blame must be put squarely at the feet of the ANC who assisted the protesters in storming the Council Chamber and threatening the lives of councillors and City employees alike. Today’s march was led by the JSM, an organisation set up by ANC members to discredit the new administration,” Mashaba alleged.
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He said the JSM received approval for a march of 300 people but arrived at the Council building with an estimated 1 000 individuals.
“This violence is about preventing us from tabling our adjustment budget for the 2016/17 financial year. This adjustment budget is a vitally important first step in ending the rot and patronage that was seen under the ANC in Joburg. It is clear that the ANC will do anything in its power to prevent this from happening.”
The ANC, however, said it was Mashaba’s arrogance that led to the council sitting degenerating into chaos.
The party’s Joburg spokesperson, Jolidee Matongo, said the ANC addressed the crowd after Mashaba did not want to.
“Upon the returning from the engagement, councillors found the chamber deserted and documents strewn all over the floor. We are disturbed by the fact that here has been damage to council property by some elements within the marchers and this could have been avoided if Mashaba had gone out to receive the memorandum,” he said.
Matongo added that the ANC called on the leadership of the protesters to instil disciple among themselves and to desist from destructive behaviour. Finally, Matongo warned that this march will not be the last if Mashaba continues to display arrogance.
The Council sitting went ahead and is still in session.
Initial Report, 23 February 2017, 13.30pm
While it is not unusual for council sittings, to have groups of protesters gathered outside the Metro centre in Braamfontein, the chaos that ensued was.
During the council sitting this morning, the African National Congress accused Mayor Herman Mashaba of being biased because he did not want to receive a memorandum from the Jozi@Work-clad protesters, pointing out that had done so in the past.
The ANC then proceeded to be excused from the sitting and its members walked out to join the protest that was being monitored by Metro police.
Chaos then erupted.
Protesters entered the foyer of the council chamber, broke the panelled glass and entered the chamber. Councillors’ laptops were broken, papers were flung about, a table overturned and glassware broken.
The Chief Whip, Dr Kevin Wax, alleged that the ANC have tried to disrupt council sittings from the start but he did not expect it to go this far. “I am not happy with how Metro police dealt with this matter. This will be fully investigated,” he said.
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Speaker Vasco Da Gama said action will be taken against those found guilty.
The Jozi@Work programme has been cut by Mashaba, much to the disappointment of the ANC. This they voiced in council as well today.
The party insisted that Mashaba should have gone to meet with the ‘petitioners’.
Council proceedings, however, went ahead, this too was met with disapproval by the ANC.
ANC councillor Geoffrey Makhubo said, “Because the mayor refused and still refused to meet marchers, we went out. [The are] insisting they wanted to give a memorandum to the mayor. They are waiting for their mayor to take the memorandum.”
Wax, however, said, “This meeting is going on today.”
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