SECUNDA- Another attempt to remove Mayor Thandi Ngxonono fell flat on Thursday, 31 January during the Govan Mbeki Municipality council meeting.
The motion of no confidence was tabled by the DA. It was supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters, Freedom Front Plus and Sakhisizwe Progressive Movement.
Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, speaker, said the motion can not be allowed due to the time frame, however the opposition parties called for the suspension of standing orders which was allowed through voting.
During the vote to suspend the standing orders, 12 ANC councillors abstained, 26 councillors from the opposition were in favour of the motion, leaving 23 ANC councillors against the motion.
This gave the opposition parties a good chance to remove the mayor.
Realising the risk, the ANC requested a caucus that was granted by Mr Zuma.
Upon returning from the caucus, Mr Zuma adjourned the meeting.
He said because the standing orders were suspended there is no legislation guiding him to conduct the council meeting.
He could not explain his statement as ANC councillors started shouting and singing at the opposition parties.
The meeting was adjourned in chaos, watch the video here:
https://www.facebook.com/echoridgenewspapers/videos/317390635558845/
Opposition parties said that Mr Zuma adjourned the meeting in a tactic to save Ms Ngxonono.
The DA said what transpired in the meeting was a clear contravention of the democratic rights of the people of GMM.
“When they realised that we were at the verge of removing the mayor, they resorted to disrupt the council meeting.”
The DA said their reason for calling for the removal of Ms Nxonono is based on her incompetency.
The party added that during her leadership as MMC for Finance, the finances of the municipality were in shambles and the debt of Eskom and Rand Water have since increased.
Ms Ciska Jordan, DA caucus leader, said this has resulted in the municipality obtaining a disclaimer from the auditor general for the financial year.
“The fact that the auditor general does not even have an opinion confirms that the finances of GMM are in disarray.
“Residents are left without water after Rand Water reduced the pressure due to the debt.
“The Department of Planning and Development which was also Ms Ngxonono’s department, is drastically improving according to the Municipal Public Account Committee, simply because she is no longer at the helm of that department.”
She is of the opinion that it is due to Ms Ngxonono leadership, that the municipal budget for 2017/18 reflected a deficit.
Mr Sibusiso Hlolweni, Sapromo leader, stated:
“The council meeting proved that the ANC can not be trusted with governance.
“They can play their tactics, but we will eventually remove Ms Ngxonono. In actual fact, Sapromo will not attend any council meetings until she has been removed.”
The councillors of the Freedom Front Plus and the EFF affirmed that Ms Ngxonono is incompetent and that she should be removed from office.
When speaking to Mr Zuma, he denied being biased and insisted he acted according to the law.
“If the opposition parties are not happy, they have every right to take the matter forward as I acted in line with the legislation. I will soon issue invitations for the next council meeting.”
https://www.facebook.com/echoridgenewspapers/videos/2234270043454376/
