THE DA in eThekwini has rejected a proposal to spend ratepayers’ money on investigations into the conduct of opposition councillors.
According to Councillor Nicole Graham, a member of the Ethics Committee, a recent sitting of the Council approved an item from the Ethics Committee to spend almost half a million rand investigating the conduct of IFP councillors at a March 2014 meeting.
The matter was referred to a private legal firm for investigation after the IFP's legal representatives correctly pointed out that councillors cannot fairly try each other when the alleged breaches were committed in a Council meeting.
Graham said the complaints against councillors, which included a further complaint against seven DA councillors, were laid by Speaker Logie Naidoo.
“The charges against DA councillors are as meaningless as 'saying point of order repeatedly'. The DA has repeatedly complained that Naidoo is unfit and unwilling to properly implement democracy in the Council, and regularly suspends the rules of order. His rulings only apply to opposition councillors, while ANC councillors are allowed free reign in the Council. Complaints against ANC councillors are ignored by Naidoo's office,” she said.
“He has failed to do his job, and then attempts to suppress those who hold him accountable. The DA will vote against this flagrant abuse of the city purse,” she said.
When Berea Mail asked the city's Communications department for a response on the allegations, eThekwini Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa responded saying the municipality had, in 2012 established a multiparty ethics committee to address matters related to councillors’ conduct. “Councillors are urged to follow up on matters raised during Council or any of the Council Committees with the office of the Speaker. Councillor Logie Naidoo. so that they will be addressed accordingly and appropriate action will be taken.”
