An attempt by Endumeni Council to pass the budget failed today as there was no Mayor to table the budget.  In 2016, the new Council chose not to elect a Deputy Mayor and this policy meant that the meeting deadlocked.

Following many caucuses between the two parties and debates over the legislation, it was decided that an acting Mayor could be elected from one of two remaining executive committee members, Clr Dr Sandy Bedassi (DA) or Clr Thulani Mahaye (ANC). Mayor Richard Mbatha is detained in police custody with two other men in Estcourt following their sensational arrest yesterday by the Hawks on a charge of plotting to assassinate Speaker,Speaker Bongiwe Mbatha-Makhatini, who is the Mayor’s fellow IFP member.

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Speaker Mbatha-Makhatini appeared to be in ill health while running the meeting but did a good job in keeping the debate civil.

The two remaining exco members went to caucus and when they returned, Clr Mahaye reported that in the interests of speeding up service delivery, Doc Bedassi had stood down and he, Clr Mahaye, was ”ready to act as Mayor”.

Meantime, Dr Bedassi reported that he had to change his stance as he had received a directive from his head office of the DA not to stand down and let the meeting be postponed until the DA can study the relevant legislation. There were more delays with the ANC councillors saying that legislation allowed the Council to elect an acting Mayor.

Speaker  Mbatha-Makhatini asked for direction from municipal manager, SR Ntuli, who said the legislation was ‘silent over what can be done’.

At that stage, IFP’s Clr Molotshwa was not present at the meeting and any decision going to the vote would have taken by the ANC. However, Clr Molotshwa arrived and took his seat. Thereafter a vote was done to postpone the meeting until next Wednesday which was carried by the alliance after the votes were equal  – 6-6 – with the Speaker having the casting vote.

ANC Chief Whip Lucky Khumalo expressed his disappointment and said the budget needs to be passed by May 31 and in terms of service delivery the Council was in a rut. He added that come Wednesday the same issue of not having a Mayor will continue to haunt the Council.