FOLLOWING Thursday’s debacle during the monthly council meeting, the DA has challenged the ANC-led Ekurhuleni to stop stalling and manipulating the legal system and to immediately expel the “illegally appointed” city manager, Khaya Ngema.
Members of the 62-strong DA caucus were physically escorted and in some cases forcefully removed from the council chambers by armed Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officers and members of the police.
Clr Fortune Mahano, DA Ekurhuleni caucus leader, and Clr Tania Campbell, DA chief whip of the Ekurhuleni caucus leader, said in a joint statement issued late on Thursday afternoon:
“The DA were protesting against being forced to participate in the consideration of illegal items, after they relentlessly challenged the speaker of council, Patricia Kumalo, and the mayor, Mondli Gungubele, to finally act on the now infamous city manager High Court order.
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“This follows the speaker of council disallowing an urgent motion brought by the DA and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA) on the vacant municipal manager position. The motion details how the mayor misled council by withholding vital information from the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo,” they said.
“The actions of the mayor, speaker and the chief whip of council, Robert Mashego, clearly highlight how the ANC continues to put themselves ahead of the people and their needs. More concerning is the studied way in which these three leaders have protected Ngema, insisting that he is not occupying his position illegally, when he so clearly is.
“The DA has relentlessly challenged the top ANC members to remove Ngema from his post. Being forcefully removed from the council meeting is merely a small victory as the ANC clearly had no answer to the DA’s demands. The DA believes that every decision that is taken by council with Ngema present is illegal and will have massive repercussions for the metro and its residents.
“The DA will continue to fight the illegal appointment of Ngema at every level. The mere fact that the ANC ignores the express opinion of the High Court shows how little they respect the rights of the people.”
