The provincial executive committee of the ANC announced last week that the former mayor and speaker of the Lekwa Municipality return to office.
Mr Linda Dhlamini and Ms Makhosazana Khota were set to resume duties again and according to information, the ANC would have handled the matter when visiting Standerton last Thursday.
The Standerton Advertiser gave coverage to disruptive council meetings where councillors made themselves heard with ‘out of order’ and the speaker remonstrated with ‘order please’.
The preamble to the saga dates back to 20 November 2018 when the DA put a motion of no confidence in a council meeting forward, regarding them. The meeting was adjourned.
According to Ms Sithi Silosini of the DA, council only held special meetings and no ordinary meetings in the past.
The presence of the police and security guards also seem to be the norm, not the exception.
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https://standertonadvertiser.co.za/101288/da-supplies-background-removal-speaker-mayor/
Mr Rosier de Ville, caucus leader of the DA, made the argument at a council meeting on 31 January that two items not on the agenda, namely the list of cases against the municipality and the 2018-motion, should be decided on.
Ms Khota and some councillors walked out and left the remaining councillors high and dry.
It was decided to apply for a special council meeting and a document was duly signed and a date was agreed on to discuss the two motions.
The two officials were removed from office on Monday, 10 February and by all accounts, an overwhelming majority voted in favour of the motions.
The newspaper tried to get comment before the meeting from the speaker via the communications manager of the municipality, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, to which a reply only said she did not have comment.
Criticism about the ANC’s decision, apart from comments on social media, came from two quarters on Wednesday, 19 February.
“Our democracy is being attacked,” Mr De Ville said.
“A legal resolution can not be turned around.”
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https://standertonadvertiser.co.za/101151/lekwa-mayor-speaker-reinstated/
He hinted however, of going the legal route of applying for an interdict and added that a motion of no confidence implies dissatisfaction with the municipality from within council, as well as the community.
“There are way too much political interference at the municipality.”
Mr De Ville alluded to the unemployed in the township and service delivery, saying it is an explosive situation.
Mr Nicholas Selepe from the Civic Voice called the development utter nonsense and echoed the DA’s sentiment of a democracy being threatened.
“Lekwa is putting the lives of residents in danger,” Mr Selepe said.
He put the water issue of Standerton above anything else.
“The majority of the community can not afford to buy water.
“People get sick from drinking the water.”
According to the Municipal Structures Act of 1998, the speaker of municipal council vacates office during a term if that person is removed from office (Chapter 3: 39 (b)).
Chapter 48: 4 (b) regulates in the same vein the vacation of office of a mayor and Chapter 58 the removal from office by resolution of the executive mayor.
Mr Selepe referred to Section 106 of the Constitution whereby a delegation from Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) visited Lekwa on 18 April 2018, in connection with alleged corruption.
According to him, CoGTA refuses to release the report to the municipality.
Mr De Ville said on Thursday, 20 February that information has been received that a special council meeting will be scheduled for the election of a mayor and speaker.
A few protesters were seen moving towards the municipal offices in Mbonani Mayisela Street by 10am the same day, as well as a bigger group standing in front of the Standerton Library.
Also read:
https://standertonadvertiser.co.za/100944/lekwas-council-meeting-ends-shambles/
