The Speaker of Council, Clr Patricia Khumalo, was well within her rights when she called in security officers during the State of the City Address in Germiston last Wednesday.
This was according to a press release released by the office of the Speaker, in which Khumalo aimed to set the record straight in relation to the disruption of the State of the City Address, held in the Germiston Council Chambers.
“Having ruled on the issues raised by the EFF and given the go ahead for the mayor’s address to be delivered, further disruptions occurred, throwing the meeting into a disorderly state.
“This led to decisive action being taken by the Speaker, in her capacity as the presiding officer of the meeting,” the release stated.
The release further stated that according to council’s standing orders, the Speaker has the responsibility to maintain order in meetings and may at any time during the meeting, if she deems it necessary, direct a security officer to remove the cause of the disruption.
“The office of the Speaker would like to distance itself from any reports that insinuate incorrect procedure was followed in council and unequivocally state that any such reporting only seeks to be sensationalist.
“Khumalo acted within her legal and procedural authority,” the release stated.
The ANC showed their support for the Speaker, stating that she did her job to the best of her abilities.
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