PREMIUM!
DA alleges opposition councillor was bribed to betray them
The Mogale City mayor was removed in a secret ballot this week.
Michael Holenstein, the former executive mayor of Mogale City.
The DA appears to be on the prowl to discover which of its council members, or those from allied parties, voted with the ANC on Wednesday in the motion of no confidence against West Rand Mogale City municipality mayor Michael Holenstein of the DA.
Holenstein was removed in a secret ballot, which the DA opposed, calling it as good as “floor crossing”, a practice no longer allowed in South Africa.
In the 2016 local government elections, the DA secured 27 seats in the council‚ the Economic Freedom Fighters nine‚ the Inkhatha Freedom Party two and the Freedom Front Plus one.
The opposition together have 39 seats compared with the ANC’s 38, meaning that at least one opposition council member voted with the ANC.
The rogue vote could have come from any of the opposition members, not necessarily the DA, and councillors are under no obligation to vote according to the directives of their party but can follow their conscience.
The ANC had accused the DA of hypocrisy for its earlier failed attempt to oppose the motion of no confidence against Michael Holenstein being conducted through secret ballot. This is exactly what the DA has asked for in a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma in parliament.
The ANC tabled the motion of no confidence on the basis of alleged gross violation of the laws governing local government by the executive mayor.
They had accused Holenstein of, among other things, political interference in administration as well as landing the municipality in serious financial dire straits through reckless decision-making.
“We had to act swiftly and decisively to avoid the municipality falling under administration on the grounds of these numerous violations‚” Khumalo said.
The troubled coalition council has been marred by spats after last year’s local government elections.
The rift between the political parties at the municipality saw Holenstein axe two ANC officials, Speaker Patrick Naga Lipudi and chief whip Sipho Dube in January. A no-confidence vote was passed against the two, who were replaced by Enerst Modise and Jacque Hoon, both DA officials.
The ANC was up in arms and branded that council meeting illegal, prompting cooperative governance MEC Paul Mashatile to intervene and reinstate Lipudi and Dube.
Another DA mayor‚ Lynn Pannall‚ had resigned from her position in December after serving four months as mayor, claiming ill health.
Holenstein disputes the allegations, maintaining that he and his team were doing a good job while in charge. “We’ve just been undermined, left, right and centre.” He told eNCA that he suspected bribery was in play.
Holenstein remains confident that he, or another DA leader, will return to the position of mayor.
The ANC speaker in council, Patrick Lepudi, has denied any allegations of wrongdoing, rejecting the allegation that anyone was bribed.
