City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Sivuyile Ngondwana has survived a second attempt to oust him from the helm of the metro.
Action SA, the ANC and the DA came together to topple the African Independent Congress councillor but the EFF fought vehemently in his protection resulting in an adjournment of the meeting by Council Speaker Nthabiseng Tshibenga, ten hours into the proceedings.
Tshivhenga cited a need to source legal opinion for her decision after the ANC and the DA tabled amendments to the original Action SA motion of no confidence against the mayor which the EFF argued “substantially changed” to the initial motion in contravention of council rules.
Council Whip and ANC Regional Coordinator Jongizizwe Dlabathi said the adjournment was premature and that the speaker should have first checked if Action SA accepted the amendments.
“ The speaker needed to allow a discussion from the side of the sponsor of the motion to hear whether they accept or reject which is normal in council and therefore on the basis of that discussion the speaker can then come in and make a final determination,” he said.
The ANC amendment sought to assert that the majority party be allowed to take the lead when a government is formed while the DA wants the entire council dissolved which would trigger by-elections across the metropolitan.
Finance MMC and EFF Gauteng chairperson Nkululeko Dunga accused the ANC and Action SA of position mongering. “ The ANC actually wants us to accept a recommendation that says that we must elect them for mayorship which is not in the spirit of democratic principles because it should be council that comes with a determination in terms of who should lead particularly when it comes to the position of mayorship and we are happy that they did not succeed,” said Dunga.
Dlabathi denied that the ANC was being unreasonable in demanding to lead saying that the proposed amendment was based on the party’s recently adopted national framework on positions.
“ We are not desperate to remain in positions. If you recall in our press briefing we express it clearly that the ANC is ready for any eventually and that eventuality includes among others the ANC being in opposition. So I think that it’s flawed and incorrect on the part of the EFF that we are desperate for power,” said Dlabathi.
The tensed meeting saw loyalties change with some in opposition parties not supporting the Action SA motion while others such as the Independent Civic Movement which is part of the current government broke rank and backed the motion.
ICM leader Dr Joe Mojapelo said it was a mistake in the first place to put someone from a smaller party as mayor and that the ANC be allowed to lead.
Mojapelo also leads the so called Super 7, a group of smaller parties that constitute a voting block that has become kingmaker.
“We strongly believe that putting a minority mayor compromises the integrity of government. You must remember that politics and council is a game of numbers so imagine I’m the mayor with one seat where do you think you’ll get support from? You get it from the parties and they say there’s nothing like free lunch right? It’s a give and take so those that will be supporting with their numbers you’ll be biased towards their direction so as a matter of principle we are of the view that the party with the majority must take the lead in council and that is the ANC,” he said.
