The African National Congress (ANC) in the North West, has condemned Monday’s chaos at the Moses Kotane Local Municipality in Mogwase, where the Speaker, Gugu Mtshali, was forcefully removed from the council chambers.
In a series of videos which have since gone viral on social media, Mtshali and some community members are seen being dragged from the chamber by bouncers.
The incident follows two separate chaotic council meetings, which were allegedly called by Mtshali and Municipal Manager, Mokopane Letsoalo, respectively.
Mtshali is then seen interrupting the special council meeting convened by Letsoalo, questioning its legality and tearing some of the council documents.
The meeting had appointed another councillor as acting speaker, which Mtshali questioned and interrupted the speaker from conducting the council session.
The ANC Spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, who was speaking on YouFM News Hour, condemned the incident.
“As the ANC we condemn the incident with the strongest terms, and the manhandling of the speaker, and the behaviour of some of the councillors in that video.
It’s a matter that we’re processing as the ANC.
We can confirm that the ANC top five Provincial Executive Committee members met with the troika of Moses Kotane, including the Bojanala Regional Executive Committee (REC) to investigate this matter.
Consequence management would be affected on anyone who would be found on the wrong,” said Maruping.
In addition, Maruping said Mtshali has since been reinstated as Speaker, and investigations are underway regarding her conduct and other council members.
Meanwhile, the ANC Women’s League in the North West, has also condemned the behaviour of councillors, including Mtshali, and described the sitting convened by Letsoalo as illegal and unconstitutional.
Nombuyiselo Adoons, who’s a member of the Provincial Task Team of the ANC Women’s League, applauded the mother body for instituting investigations regarding the matter, and said it is appalled by what is described as gender-based violence against Mtshali.
“We haven’t received a report of what necessitated this chaos.
Our concern is the gender-based violence that we saw happening.
That is our concern to say, look how the speaker was dragged, and it caught national attention.
It’s shocking that we still have such behaviour even today, when are we going to stop this abuse of women,” explained Adoons, who was also speaking on YouFM News Hour.
Adoons said the speaker has opened a case against the bouncers, for abuse, harassment, and some of the injuries inflicted on her.
Despite this, the league said Mtshali could have handled the matter differently.
“As a speaker, she could have shown leadership and left the illegally convened meeting.
Yes, we see that there is chaos, but why were there bouncers there targeting the speaker and pulling her out.
We’re not happy with her behaviour, but people react differently as human beings, especially when we’re being attacked.
We’re condemning her behaviour, because it’s unbecoming of a person no matter how angry you are, you have to find a way of becoming a leader and rise above all the emotions that are running through at that time,” added Adoons.
The South African Local Government Association, SALGA, in the North West, has also condemned the incident and called on all councillors to make a public apology for their actions.
