There were chaotic scenes in the Endumeni Council Chamber this morning after the long-awaited ordinary Council meeting came to an abrupt end after it was announced that IFP Ward 3 Councillor, T Zitha, had been expelled from the party.
The meeting, where several motions were to have been tabled by the ANC (including a motion of no confidence in Mayor Richard Mbatha), started slightly after ten but the gallery was packed with many people wearing IFP and ANC clothing. The expectation was in the air and there was a sense that something was going to happen.
And it did. The only item that was not disrupted was the prayer said by Councillor Zwane. Speaker Bongiwe Mbatha-Makhathini asked the municipal manager, TP Biyela, to read out the standing rules governing how Councillors must conduct themselves in a meeting.
However, this was immediately disrupted by the ANC’s Lucky Khumalo and Siduduzo Mdluli who wanted ‘points of order’ and asked for a five-minute caucus.
Speaker Mbatha-Makhathini eventually agreed to this. After the caucus, Councillor Zitha arrived and took his seat. When Councillor Mdluli stood up to speak he was shouted down by a section of the gallery who told him to sit down.
Councillor Zitha raised his hand to speak which prompted Speaker Mbatha-Makhathini to declare him ‘a non-Councillor’ and asked him to vacate his chair. “You are no longer a Councillor and must leave,” she told him.

After more disruptions, Speaker Mbatha-Makhathini declared the meeting closed. It had lasted barely 30 minutes. This was met with chaotic scenes with members of the public picking up chairs, chanting and singing. The dancing spilt over to outside the building.
Later, Councillor Zitha told the Courier that he had received a termination of service letter from the IFP.

“But it is not legal. Only the MEC can remove a Ward Councillor. My party did not give me a disciplinary hearing and did not allow me to give my side of the story. Yes, I did sign a motion with the ANC, calling the Speaker to urgently call a full Council meeting which we have not had since around February. This is a legal requirement. I will fight my expulsion in court.”