Fighting, outbursts and a near-physical altercation in council
Racial remarks in council almost led to a fist fight.
It was a matter of touch and go or there could have been a fist fight between Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Cilliers Brink and Terrence Mashego, MMC for Safety and Security, in this month’s Tshwane metro council meeting. Physical violence was prevented by DA and ANC councillors who pulled the two combatants away from each other.
It all started when Winston Campbell was debating the proposed draft waste management bylaws for the city. Campbell said public participation meetings should also be held in Silverton, Jan Niemand Park and Eersterust. He blamed the ANC opposition for public participation only taking place in black townships, controlled by the ANC or in the CBD, implying that the latter was an unsafe place to be. He described such participation as ‘meaningless’ and said it was a ‘devious’ method of excluding potential dissenting voices.
Racism soon reared its ugly head. The ANC opposition’s greatest issue was with the word ‘black’. The ensuing debate centred on ‘black’ townships and ‘white’ suburbs. Mashego, who held the floor for most of the time, asked what a ‘black’ township was.
“I don’t come from a black township. I come from the city, or Tshwane. I regard Eersterust as part of these. What is a black township? And what is Eersterust. Is Eersterust a ‘white’ township? Because if so, then I am surprised,” he said.
Campbell replied saying he was prepared to withdraw the word ‘black’ from discussions.
Talk of race soon drew another contender to the field, with Cilliers Brink participating in the debate. “What a joyous day. It is a happy day. Councillor Mashego has morphed into a colour-blind liberal Democrat. Viva! You know what, psychologically we must have had an effect on you, Councillor Mashego. Or maybe it was the blow to the head you received,” he said.
The latter was a reference to an incident a few months ago when four burglars broke into Mashego’s house in Mabopane. Mashego was attacked with a crowbar and had to spend several days in hospital with injuries to his body and head.
To this Mashego immediately took exception: “I don’t have a problem with children getting excited, but I can assure you, Madam Speaker, this one must be withdrawn. Otherwise, Madam Speaker, I am taking further action, because it is on record. I cannot afford a situation where people get so excited that they go to that extent. I’m requesting you to ask that young councillor – he is younger than my first-born – to withdraw that statement. He can become excited, but he cannot refer to my person,” he said.
Marieta Aucamp, chief whip of the DA in the house, said: “Quite a few times in the past and today again councillor Brink has been referred to as a child or a baby in council. I must ask councillor Mashego also to withdraw his statement,” she said.
In the pandemonium that erupted, speaker Mosupyo-Letsholo tried to regain order in the house and ordered Brink to withdraw his statement, saying it was unbecoming and uncalled for. “Madam Speaker, I am so sorry I hurt his feelings, I withdraw it,” was his brusque reply.
Still having the floor, Brink said: “It warms my heart, Madam Speaker, when you protect me. The interesting thing is this strange obsession with race. Returning to an amicable conversation with you, councillor Mashego, it is good that you have converted to a colour-blind liberal Democrat, it shows that we have achieved something. You are indeed listening to us. You are taking in some of what we are saying. It is just unfortunate that some of the remarks emanating from the media about councillor Campbell wanting to be a white person reveal your true colours.”
Brink was immediately called to order by the speaker, who insisted that he withdrew the statement. The conversation went as follows:
Brink: “Madam Speaker, please clarify what you want me to withdraw.”
Speaker: “You don’t understand what I said. I spoke to….”
Brink (interrupting): “Absolutely not.”
Speaker (highly agitated): Councillor Brink, councillor Brink, you don’t have manners, you just don’t, and I am tolerating you because of my responsibility as chairperson. On some occasions I actually protected you. You have been disrespectful to other people in council. I’m going to ask you one more time to withdraw that statement and don’t pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about. Your intention is to confuse the council. I will ask you once again to withdraw the statement you made with racial connotations.”
Brink: “Madam Speaker, I do not know what statement it is that you want me to withdraw. I have the freedom to speak about ideas in this council.”
This led to a heated argument, with Brink assuring the speaker repeatedly that he did not know what he should withdraw and an agitated speaker insisting on the withdrawal.
Speaker Mosupyo-Letsholo, visibly fuming with anger, consulted her rules and order book, whereupon she ordered Brink to leave the council. As he left council, Brink gave a thumbs up.
As he exited the council, he was confronted by Mashego in the foyer. A heated argument between the two council members took place, and hard words were exchanged. It was clear this blow-up had all the ingredients for erupting into a physical altercation, however, the two councillors were pulled apart just in time by various opposition party members.
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