The audit report was based on the performance review on growth development, finance and corporate services, as well as social development and infrastructure development in the city.
It stated that 62 per cent of its target was achieved.
The DA begged to differ.
Council members then began hurling verbal punches at each other.
This came shortly after DA spokesperson on Finance, Clr Eddie Taylor, put on a blue helmet and started making reference to the recent march by the DA where it is alleged that brick-carrying protesters wearing ANC T-shirts stormed the DA in central Johannesburg, when the DA undertook a march towards Luthuli House to protest against service delivery.
This was not the only reference to the march in the meeting.
Earlier on in the meeting, former DA Chief Whip, Clr Ashor Sarupen, was silenced as he raised the motion on the allegation that metro buses were not available to the public on the day in question, as they were used to transport ANC members to disrupt the march.
Sharupen was accused of having incorrect dates and his motion was dismissed.
Taylor referred to his blue helmet as “protection” from ANC members in the chamber, as he did not know if his safety would be threatened after raising his views.
This was a similar helmet to those which were worn by DA marchers.
Taylor then pointed out how the ANC had attacked innocent DA members on the day.
ANC chairperson of Finance, Neil Diamond, accused Taylor of not having proof that the attackers were indeed ANC members, as they did not have the party’s membership cards on display.
The speaker then ordered Taylor to remove his helmet as it was a sign of disrespect to the chamber.
A debate on the accounts of the march erupted with permission from the speaker.
After council members settled down, Taylor continued with his address.
He accused the municipality of cheap politicking, using public money for electioneering and pointed out that the mayor asking for an increase to his budget was wasteful expenditure.
ANC members across the room from him began shouting and objecting to the points he raised.
Diamond pointed out that service delivery was the number one priority of the city, and referred to Apartheid as a contributing factor to some of the challenges faced.
Estelle Visser, a member of the finance oversight in the DA, and who serves on the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, raised a motion that there were numerous complaints from members of the community on the lack of efficient service from the municipality’s R29-million call centre.
This she said is based on poor service and no service from the centres call agents, as members of the public would hold lines for 45 to 50 minutes with no assistance.
She requested that a report be given and be made public on where and how the R29-m funds were used in the upgrade of the centre.
In her response, Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate Shared Services, Phelisa Nkunjane, said the call centres were working fine, upsetting Visser who raised a point of order.
Uproar erupted in the chambers.
Visser was reprimanded by the speaker, and accused of using body language and a tone that was undermining, and that would not be tolerated in the chamber.
The speaker requested to see Visser after the meeting.
Speaking to her after the meeting, Visser maintains that the call centre is not functioning, as there has been no progress with service in the centre, with only three months left until the end of the financial year.
Visser says the speaker moved the spotlight from the real issue at hand, by deliberately and unnecessarily putting focus on her.
Petitions raised in the meeting included residents wanting to know about the R101-m awarded to wards, traffic lights not working and storm water drainage problems.
