The Democratic Alliance is doubling down its onslaught against the ANC-led coalition government of the City of Tshwane which has been rendered vulnerable by mayor Nasiphi Moya’s so-called ‘swimming pool’ scandal.
The allegation is that that a municipal contractor identified as Tlopo Construction, used city funds to carry out renovations at her private residences in Pretoria and the Eastern Cape including the building of a swimming pool, a charge the mayor denies.
The DA is using the scandal along with the coalition’s failed attempt to fire City Manager Johann Mettler who is seen as being loyal to the blue party which was in charge of the capital when he was appointed.
The party has singled out Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana accusing him of abusing his powers and of meddling in voting procedures to aid the coalition secure a council resolution for Mettler’s removal.
DA Tshwane Caucus Chairperson Katlego Makgaleng said the party wanted Ndzwanana removed as it believes he’s grown increasingly dictatorial and lacks impartiality.
DA Tshwane Caucus Chairperson Katlego Makgaleng said the party wanted Ndzwanana removed as it believes he’s grown increasingly dictatorial and lacks impartiality.
“The Speaker of Council, Cllr Mncedisi Nzwanana, must be removed from office. The Speaker has become notorious for making irrational and malicious rulings within council, acting as though he is a “King” or a military general who oppresses elected public representatives trying to raise legitimate issues,” said Makgaleng after filing a motion of no confidence against the Speaker.
He said Ndzwanana was heavy-handed against DA councilors while mollycodlling representatives of the coalition government.
“He has behaved like a mafia boss, selectively unleashing council orderlies (the security officers in white shirts) against councillors. While parties known for violating council rules, such as the ANC and EFF, are consistently given soft landings, DA councillors are treated like criminals,” he said.
While the coalition has so far managed to hold their own against the DA, the ANC, the largest party in the marriage is facing internal resistance to its defense of Moya with its youth league and its former regional chairperson Kgoshi Maepa demanding the party be tougher on her.
“The mayor of the city, as the first citizen of the city, must be an exemplar. She must lead by example. In fact, each and everyone must be inspired by the mayor.
But currently, with the allegations that are levelled against her, she’s not an example to young people. Now, we are saying that, as young people, we are tired of the corruption that has been taking place. We’ve seen corruption during the DA-led administration, and it was worse.
But currently, under the coalition government that is led by the Action SA, the corruption that is taking place in the city of Twan is very rife. I’m sure you have seen, recently, it rumoured in a commission, whereby they’ve been mentioning corruption and fraudulent processes, manipulation of tender processes by the city officials, by the CFO. All of these things that are happening under the mayor’s watch,” said ANC Tshwane regional convener Thabang Mahlomuza during a picket outside council.
“How can the city have money to renovate houses and make swimming pools, whereby young people do not have bazaars, young people do not have access to education, young people are left joblessness, young people are left homeless in the streets, whereas our mayors and our public officials are stealing state resources to further their personal interests,” he said.
The DA lacks the numbers required to have the Speaker removed even with the support of the Freedom Front Plus but was hoping to exploit ongoing contradictions in the coalition that has been divided by what the ANC and EFF have claimed is the dishonesty of ActionSA which they accuse of opportunistically claiming credit for all achievements in a bid to gain political mileage ahead of the 4 November local government elections. The motion of no confidence against the Speaker had not yet been entertained at the time of publication.
The coalition shot down the motion before it could even be tabled leaving the DA crying foul.