No acting building control officer for Joburg after ANC, EFF rejection

The African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) objected to the appointment of an acting building control officer at a special city council sitting on May 8, Randburg Sun reports.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said the City was considering all other available options to speedily resolve the matter.

READ MORE: Joburg building approvals grind to a halt

This follows the suspension of the incumbent building control officer on grounds of alleged misconduct.

This is pending an investigation into irregularities in the issuing of notices to developers, resulting in developments taking place without approved plans.

This has created a law-enforcement burden for the City, and loss of revenue, among others.

The mayor said the special council sitting represented the third such instance where the multi-party government had attempted to resolve the matter, which he said was urgent.

“With each attempt, the ANC has fought against the City’s efforts to address wrongdoing by claiming the new administration is on a witchhunt,” he said.

“The ANC’s claim is absurd given the seriousness of the allegations and the implications of potential further abuse of someone continuing to serve in such a position.”

As kingmakers in situations where the ANC objects to a proposal, the EFF’s vote was the final nail in the coffin.

The spokesperson for the EFF, Silumko Mabona, said the party opposed the appointment of the acting building control officer because the only structure that could appoint them was the council and not the executive.

“The executive made an appointment of the acting arrangements without the approval of the council,” he said. “That administrative blunder made by the DA-led coalition has caused instability in the municipality.

“The EFF rejects the temporary appointment of the [building control officer] who has lots of allegations around her and we are requesting that the executive must appoint another person who is not tangled in a lot of shenanigans.”

As for the ANC, former development planning MMC Ruby Mathang said the City had been plunged into deeper turmoil.

“Today the City of Joburg council is without a building control officer because of processes and procedures that were not followed properly by the DA administration,” he said.

Mathang said the report that was tabled was not what was expected.

“A report was to be tabled in council yesterday that explains problems and the conduct that led to the suspension of the [officer]. The report would entail the necessary action required to remedy the situation, but instead, council received a report requesting the appointment of an acting [officer].”

He said this has led to a serious debate on the procedural matter.

The matter will again be tabled at another special council sitting.

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