Fight over sanctioned ANC, EFF councillors escalates in Mogale City

At least 2 500 people have signed an online petition to get Cogta MEC Mzi Khumalo to act against 40 Mogale City councillors who bunked council meetings.

The group is alleged to have contravened the code of conduct.

The councillors, who are ANC and EFF members, were initially fired by former DA speaker Jacqueline Pannal in April.

As a result, several council sittings held to pass an interim budget failed as there was no quorum.

A subsequent interim court order sought by the ANC ordered that the group be allowed back into the council.

This paved the way for the ANC/EFF alliance to push through a motion to remove the DA, similar to what happened in other hung councils in Gauteng.

The DA and its coalition partners have to file papers by July and explain why the court order shouldn’t be made permanent.

Remove ‘truant councillors’

The online petition was launched on Sunday and has since garnered more than 2 500 signatures.

The organisers call themselves ‘Mogale City Residents’ and want to directly petition Khumalo to “uphold and protect” the code of conduct.

ALSO READ: Court orders reinstatement of 40 dismissed Mogale City councillors

“We are aware that our constitutional and democratic rights to representation have been violated, whereby 40 councillors missed council meetings without leave of absence.

“In terms of section 17 of the Constitution, we the residents hereby petition and compel your good self to enact your duties and remove those truant councillors as per the envisioned legislated sanction.

“This will ensure the protection of our constitutional and democratic rights to representation,” read the petition note.

According to the Act, a councillor who skips three or more meetings without giving reasons can be removed from council.

Petition ‘a campaign by DA’

However, ANC caucus leader and speaker Lucky Sele rubbished the petition as an attempt by the DA to influence residents.

He said the matter of the 40 councillors will be dealt with in court.

“That petition is just a campaign for the DA to source a database for the 2024 elections. They know they have no leg to stand on.

“It was illegal for Pannal to do what she did, and they’re now inviting the community to illegal processes,” Sele said.

The ANC/EFF alliance installed African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor Danny Thupane as mayor last month.

Both parties have a combined majority in council, while ATM has one seat.

NOW READ: ANC, EFF alliance remove Mogale City mayor in no confidence vote