ActionSA is concerned about the leadership gap in Ekurhuleni
The recent ousting of former Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana, propelled by a council vote supported by 47 councillors against his 32 supporters, added to the municipality's instability.
The fate of Ekurhuleni’s leadership hangs in the balance following last week’s postponement of the extraordinary council meeting intended to elect a new mayor, orchestrated by the speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga.
In what had been a turbulent four months for Ekurhuleni, issues ranging from service delivery deficiencies to public protests demanding improvement have underscored the municipality’s challenges.
The recent ousting of former Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana, propelled by a council vote supported by 47 councillors against his 32 supporters, added to the municipality’s instability.
ALSO READ: WATCH: DA councillors walk out of council meeting
Tensions peaked at the last council meeting, where motions of no confidence were tabled against both Ngodwana and Tshivhenga.
ActionSA initiated the motion against Ngodwana, while the DA lodged a motion against Tshivhenga, alleging her involvement in shielding EFF councillors implicated in a previous altercation.
ActionSA, sponsors of the successful motion against Ngodwana, criticised the speaker’s decision to postpone the extraordinary meeting, emphasising the critical need for political oversight in light of the municipality’s precarious state.
Citing legal violations, Siyanda Makhubo the ActionSA Ekurhuleni caucus leader, lambasted Tshivhenga’s actions as undermining council procedures and indicative of the EFF’s disregard for democratic processes.
Makhubo condemned Tshivhenga’s tenure, accusing her of allowing the EFF caucus to disrupt and postpone council proceedings on multiple occasions, a sentiment echoed by concerned party leaders.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Tshivhenga adjourns council to meet with residents, accept memorandum
In response, ActionSA convened with other stakeholders to explore legal recourse, considering the possibility of invoking the Municipal Systems Act to petition the city manager to preside over the extraordinary council meeting, pending the support of a majority of councillors.
As Ekurhuleni grapples with political turmoil, residents remain apprehensive about the municipality’s future leadership and its ability to address pressing issues that are impacting the community.
