DA, EFF coalition ‘boots out’ ANC top leaders from Mogale City

Mogale City, on the West Rand, has been reportedly dogged by yet another scandal after the municipality’s mayor was apparently forced to axe key African National Congress (ANC) members of his council.

The Star reported on Tuesday that on Friday, motions of no confidence were passed against ANC speaker Patrick Lipudi and the party’s chief whip, Sipho Dube, by DA Mayor Michael Holenstein.

The pair has been replaced with DA councillors Jacques Hoon and Earnest Modise as the new speaker and chief whip, respectively.

The move, according to the daily, comes as ongoing spats between the ANC and the coalition between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) continues.

The ANC, which lost the municipality to the opposition after last year’s local government elections, is accusing Holenstein of not following proper processes when he convened the meeting.

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The DA is also accusing the ANC of attempting to destabilise the municipality by refusing to convene council meetings, which are called by the speaker according to the council rules. The paper reports that the DA has alleged that Holenstein asked Lipudi and Dube to convene a meeting last month to pass a vote of no confidence against them, but they refused to do so.

The former speaker has also been accused of refusing to convene a meeting to approve an application for a further overdraft to pay bonuses to municipal officials. He also allegedly refused to call a meeting to appoint an acting municipal manager while candidates for the position were being interviewed.

A number of councillors reportedly requested a meeting to be convened at which the motion of no confidence was passed on Friday with a vote of 39. The ANC has 38 councillors who were not present during the council meeting. The appointment of the acting municipal manager was also approved.

The paper quoted the DA’s political head for the West Rand, Alan Fuchs, saying the ANC simply could not accept the democratic process.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Paul Mashatile would on Tuesday hold an urgent meeting with officials at the municipality.

The provincial Cogta department said the actions of the council, led by a DA/EFF coalition, were not consistent with council rules.

“Given these unfortunate developments that threaten to cripple the municipality’s ability to render services, MEC Mashatile will intervene with a view to deal with a number of anomalies that could potentially collapse the functioning of the council of Mogale City,” the department said in a statement.

“The Gauteng Department of Cogta views the latest developments as not being consistent with council rules as adopted by the same council and relevant municipal legislation. In intervening the MEC will engage all parties and relevant officials to help resolve the matter amicably.”

Last week, the ANC in the West Rand branded the meeting as illegal and that it would plunge the municipality into further chaos “through their blatant disregard for the laws that govern local government.”

“The mayor returned from Europe yesterday [last week Wednesday] and sought a meeting to consider a vote of no confidence in other members of the political management, a total disregard of standing rules and orders of council which require a 14 day notice period before such can be considered,” the ANC said in a statement.

“Despite having been presented with the rules of council, Holenstein has illegally decided to convene council meeting himself, instead of the Speaker doing so as the only person legally mandated to do such.”

Holenstein was elected mayor in December last year, following the resignation of DA’s Lynn Pannall due to ill health. Holenstein beat Lipudi and received 39 votes against 38 for Lidipu.

Pannall had also beaten ANC’s Peace Mabe by a single vote to take over as mayor after last year’s local government elections.