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The DA in KwaDukuza is disappointed that today’s highly anticipated council meeting has collapsed in the manner it has.

The meeting degenerated into chaos after the Council Speaker, Councillor Dolly Govender, attempted to gerrymander the results of a vote over sending an official from KwaDukuza Municipality to Mandeni Municipality, which would be paid for by ratepayers in KwaDukuza.

A verbal shouting match between the Independent Alliance (IA) and ANC then ensued, resulting in the Speaker having the IA councillor ejected. A violent altercation then broke out.

This resulted in the Mayor, Lindi Nhaca, Speaker and ANC councillors leaving the building and collapsing the meeting.

The DA will today write to the Speaker of Council requesting a written explanation on what rules she followed to eject the IA councillor, as well as to the Mayor requesting an urgent Executive Committee meeting to discuss today’s events.

On the motion of no confidence, the DA remains committed to securing a coalition agreement that will bring a new government to KwaDukuza. Having a motion of no confidence without an agreement is reckless and will lead to the municipality being placed under administration.

Today’s instability and violence in council shows in even stronger terms why a stable, certain and definite coalition agreement must be reached before a motion of no confidence in the outgoing ANC mayor.

Issued by Councillor Tammy Colley - DA KwaDukuza Caucus Leader