Endumeni Council opts for ‘separation of powers’
'lCouncillors can still attend and participate in exco meetings but of course with no voting rights as per the law.'
Endumeni Council has dumped the long-standing ‘collective executive committee system’ which has seen Councillors being able to debate at executive committee, Exco, meetings but not being permitted to vote.
The system has been in place since 2001 when Dundee and Glencoe amalgamated to form Endumeni.
Endumeni has three exco members, representing the ANC, DA and IFP. Exco makes recommendations which are then sent to a full Council for ratification.
Up until now these meetings were held collectively for the sake of ‘logic and made sure all Councillors were allowed to participate in decision making but only the three exco members being allowed to vote.
On a request from Dr Sandy Bedassi, the Council has resolved by majority to vote to ‘separate these powers’ which means exco will now meet in the mornings and another full Council meeting will be held later in the day to pass the decisions. He had the backing of the IFP.
“What was wrong with the previous system? We had achieved a clean audit so it could not have been so bad.”
Councillors who were not at the earlier exco meetings could defer decisions back to exco for clarification.
Dr Bedassi said the separation of powers system had worked at the Umzinyathi District Council where he had previously served.
Thulani Mahaye, who sits on exco representing the ANC, said his party was against the decision. “Endumeni, with only 13 councillors, is too small for separate exco meetings. It is just creating more meetings which is not necessary. We are concerned that this could slow down service delivery as recommendations taken by exco will only get to a Council meeting later. What was wrong with the previous system? We had achieved a clean audit so it could not have been so bad.”
Desi Padaycahee, acting municipal manager, said resolutions taken by exco will still go to a full Council. “The only difference is that exco and Council will sit separately but all Councillors can still attend and participate in exco meetings but of course with no voting rights as per the law.”
