A special council meeting was held last week at the Wembezi Multipurpose Centre. There were many empty seats, mostly those of senior management, including the municipal manager (MM) and speaker.
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The MM and speaker, along with members of management, were attending a workshop.The meeting began with the first item on the relatively thin agenda.
After a quorum check, the meeting got underway with an acting MM and speaker appointed.Councillor Mlotshwa and Mkhize were both nominated for the role of acting speaker, and a vote was taken by show of hands raised in favour of each one.
Those in favour of Councillor Mkhize raised their hands. At some point, one person raised both hands, which resulted in a miscount of one. Councillor Mkhize received 11 votes and Councillor Mlotshwa 16. With the most votes, Councillor Mlotshwa took up the speaker’s seat and was ready to officially begin the proceedings when supporters of Councillor Mkhize demanded a recount.
Those who voted in his favour became very vocal, insisting that the votes be taken again. Councillor Mlotshwa returned to his seat and a recount was done, resulting in the numbers being 12 to 16, with Councillor Mlotshwa still receiving the majority.
Mr Chotoo was thereafter asked to be the acting MM for the meeting and took up his seat. The mayor, Jabulile Mbele, had to call for order with great agitation on various occasions, and Chief Whip Nkosana Mazibuko was forced to address his co-councillors about their behaviour.
The meeting went back and forth, with no direction throughout its duration. Mr Chotoo touched on the financial constraints the municipality continues to face. Councillors raised the matter of security with Mr Chotoo, who rose from his seat and consulted with the security guards at the entrance.
He then informed council that security had indicated that all councillors underwent a body search, besides the public, as they entered the chamber. Prior to this, the few members of the gallery who appeared to be employees of some of the councillors walked out, leaving the chamber before they could be searched.
This left only our reporter seated in the gallery. An hour and a half after the meeting had begun, an actual search of members of the public was carried out by the guards.
The mid-year budget and performance assessment report for 2020 was discussed, but it was decided that the mid-year budget and performance assessment report could not be addressed in the absence of people like the chief financial officer.
Several councillors were upset that the council agenda had been signed and approved, while management knew key people would be absent on the day. The meeting came to an end with no progress being made and a continuation was held the following day to address compliance issues.
After several caucuses, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) staged a walk-out, breaking the quorum, and the meeting could not proceed.
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