Last night, 03 April 2024, at 23:11 PM, the delinquent EFF Speaker of Ekurhuleni Council, Cllr Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, sent out a notice that the extraordinary council meeting, where a new Executive Mayor was to be elected, is postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

The extraordinary Council meeting, which was set for today, 04 April 2024, follows the successful motion of No Confidence against, former EFF Puppet Mayor, Cllr Sivuyile Ngodwana, where ActionSA successfully sponsored further recommendations for the Speaker of Council to convene an extraordinary meeting within 7 days to elect an Executive Mayor. 

The motion followed a successful campaign for lack of service delivery and a lack of accountability from the Mayor, who was a compromise candidate captured by the EFF. 

The election of an Executive Mayor is not an item that can be taken lightly, the entire administration is at risk every day as no political oversight exists, this resulting in a power vacuum. 

ActionSA must make it very clear that there is no ambiguity on this matter- The unilateral decision of the Speaker an illegal decision that not only violates a council resolution to convene within 7 days, but also rule 35(6) of the Standing Rules of Council, that affords the Speaker a right to postpone/cancel a Council meeting 72 hours before a scheduled Council meeting. 

It follows therefore that the Speaker has consequently transgressed the both the law and violated council resolutions. This illegal decision once again highlights Cllr Tshivhenga’s complete disregard for council procedures and the EFF’s determination to undermine every democratic process in council which does not suit them. 

Ekurhuleni has been held hostage for over a year by Cllr Tshivhenga, who has in this short period allowed her EFF caucus to disrupt and postpone council on four separate occasions. 

ActionSA will be meeting with other concerned party leaders today from 09:00, to explore legal options and the possibility of the City Manager who as per the Municipal Systems Act, read together with the Structures Act, where after a majority of Councillors (113) have petitioned the Speaker, request the City Manager to preside over the extraordinary council meeting.

 

Issued by ActionSA COE Caucus Leader Siyanda Makhubo