Emotions were high on February 29 outside the Ekurhuleni council buildings in Germiston as residents protested, demanding the mayor’s removal and the EFF leadership in the council to step down.
Residents told Germiston City News that Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana and his executive have failed to provide services and that service delivery has reached “its worst point in Ekurhuleni”.
Resident Paul Jacobs said CoE is falling apart under the EFF’s leadership.
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“The EFF said they are for the people, but they are not. They said they would root out corruption, but I feel they are also corrupt. They have nothing to serve the people and just put the city in a shambles,” said Jacobs.
In recent months, GCN has reported on the ongoing service delivery complaints, which included extended power outages, especially in Elsburg, Dinwiddie, Primrose and Klopperpark.
More recently, reportage focused on power surges in Primrose and poor road maintenance (potholes) throughout Germiston.
Elandsfontein has many challenges, including sewage, adding to health concerns, illegal power connections and illegal dumping.
The residents’ call for a leadership change was echoed inside the council chambers when ActionSA tabled a motion for a vote of no confidence against Ngodwana because of his “failure” to deliver services to the people of Ekurhuleni.
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Throughout the meeting, service delivery was at the top of discussions when councillors continued to share frustrations.
The motion was not well received by EFF ahead of the session when arguments for and against the motion’s removal were debated.
The ANC and DA supported such a motion with recommended amendments submitted by party leaders.
The EFF ordered ActionSA to withdraw its motion.
The meeting soon erupted into chaos and later violence.
EFF members became physical with other council members, and GCN witnessed the intimidation of opposition party members, leading to speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, an EFF councillor, walking out of the house and abandoning her role.
Security and the EMPD were called to remove the EFF members from the council chambers and keep them out for the meeting to continue.
Some 113 councillors signed a petition to support the continuation of the meeting, but it was adjourned to allow party leaders to seek legal guidance on the vote.
Whip of council Jongizizwe Dlabathi said a meeting with multi-party leaders was convened on March 1 to map a way forward after yet another council sitting collapsed.
Thursday was not the first time the meeting had collapsed.
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On November 30 last year, another ordinary council meeting was adjourned after a brawl between EFF and DA councillors.
Before Friday’s meeting, Dlabathi said the meeting with party leaders was to address the conduct of councillors and the vote of no confidence in the mayor.
GCN reported on Thursday evening that the meeting was adjourned after scheduling a meeting with the speaker for March 1.
On Friday, Tshivhenga called in sick.
“The entire multi-party will meet with the speaker to reflect on what transpired, but we express our discontent about how the matter could have been handled better,” said Dlabathi.
GCN requested comment from the EFF spokesperson for Gauteng, Baleni Dumisani.
