THE speaker of council was well within her rights when she called in security during the State of the City address in Germiston on Wednesday.
Following the chaos where EFF members continued to disrupt the meeting, Clr Patricia Khumalo called for the metro police to enter the chambers.
The office of the speaker issued a statement on Thursday morning.
https://www.citizen.co.za/kempton-express/144675/watch-chaos-breaks-state-city-address/
Sphelele Nxele, spokesperson for the speaker, said: “Preceding the call for the mayor’s speech, the speaker of council, Clr Patricia Khumalo, exercised due decorum in attending to a recurring matter brought through numerous points of order by the EFF.
“Having ruled on the issue and given the go ahead for the mayor’s address to be delivered, undue disruptions then occurred, throwing the meeting into a disorderly state. This led to decisive action being taken by the speaker, in her capacity as the presiding officer of the meeting,” Nxele said.
“According to Ekurhuleni Council’s standing orders, the speaker of council has the responsibility to maintain order in meetings. The second insert stipulates that the speaker of council may at any time during the meeting, if she deems it necessary for maintaining order, direct a security officer to remove or cause the removals of any person.
https://www.citizen.co.za/kempton-express/144691/kempton-councillor-in-hospital-after-council-violence/
“Additionally, council has full legislative and administrative powers and as such the necessary security enforcement measures were taken to constrain the commotion and allow the meeting to continue.
“The office of the speaker would like to distance itself from any reports that insinuate incorrect procedure was followed in council and unequivocally states that any such reporting only seeks to be sensationalist.
The speaker of council acted within her legal and procedural authority.
“We urge the public to be not distracted from the business of the day contained in the mayor’s address, which was today’s focal point. The livelihood of the citizens of Ekurhuleni remains a key priority and the office of the speaker within legislature remains the custodian of ensuring robust public involvement in governance.
“Our commitment to the city’s prosperity by ensuring improved delivery of services to our citizens remains unwavering.”
