VIDEO: ‘Sex scandal’ mayor retains his number-one spot
The sitting was filled with arguing and disruptions and alleged delaying tactics, however, the council finally reached the point where the EFF submitted a motion of no confidence in Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa.
In the midst of an alleged sex scandal, Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa has survived the chop at an excruciating late-night sitting of the city council on Thursday evening.
The sitting was filled with arguing and disruptions and alleged delaying tactics, however, the council finally reached the point where the EFF submitted a motion of no confidence in Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa.
But the EFF saw it’s motion being disallowed by council speaker Katlego Mathebe, which led to the postponement of the sitting due to the EFF and ANC staging a walkout.
Mathebe said, “I have applied my mind independently” as she shared with council members why she was disallowing the EFF’s motion.
She cited the two service delivery failures put forward by the EFF of lack of adequate water and electricity in parts of Tshwane.
“The (EFF) motion is advancing arguments, expressing opinion and contains unnecessary, incriminating, disparaging or improper suggestions.”
Mathebe said Mokgalapa was also not single-handedly responsible for the “failures” tabled by the EFF in their motion.
READ MORE: EFF and ANC want scandal mayor out
EFF Tshwane Regional Chairperson Moafrika Mabogwana responded to Mathebe’s decision by saying “we’ve got a very partisan speaker in the council”.
“We went to the council knowing very well that the speaker was going to disallow our motion.”
Mabogwana alleged that Mathebe had whispered to the EFF earlier that “I will disallow your motion”.
He said this was why the EFF had decided to send attorney letters to Mathebe on her “skewed behaviour” over the matter.
“We wrote to her through our legal team as we knew of her intentions and we will also be taking this matter to court.”
Mabogwana said Mathebe would be held personally accountable during the case they sought to pursue.
Mabogwana said the EFF was, however, positive that Mokgalapa’s journey as mayor would soon come to an end.
“We are going to remove Mokgalapa and the speaker had no reason to disallow our motion.”
ANC’s Tshwane regional chairperson, Dr Kgosi Maepa, said the ANC had also written to Mathebe imploring her to allow their motion, which followed a process or face legal action.
“The next logical move is to go to court and ask the court to urgently intervene because the speaker must use the rules and discretion properly.
“She must not advance her own political parties.”
Maepa said the ANC would now join with other parties in council to be partners in court to enforce Mathebe to allow motions.
“This council meeting has not finished as members left, so it was postponed and if there is a postponement, this means we need to conclude council,” he said.
Despite the upsetting news over the motion, the ANC was happy to see the removal of senior city officials.
READ MORE: Acting mayor appointed in wake of alleged sex scandal
“We are happy that the previous acting city manager, who was in cahoots with the mayor, has been removed.”
Maepa said the Economic Development and City Planning group head Makgorometje Augustine Makgata would be appointed as the city manager.
Maepa said council had also decided to sack head of emergency services Previn Govender.
“We have obtained victories for this council to retain normalcy again. Ultimately we will remove Mokgalapa – it’s just a matter of time.”
Maepa said Mokgalapa was already “walking on ice”.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
