Cope scores key position of new speaker

Despite having one seat at the Tshwane metro council, the Congress of the People (Cope) managed to score the key position of council speaker through the coalition government.

Cope regional chairperson Dr Murunwa Makwarela was elected unopposed as the new Tshwane speaker on Thursday at the Tshwane council chambers.

The election of the new speaker of council went smoothly, Makwarela being the only Cope member at the council his nomination was raised by the DA’s Jacqui Uys and backed by coalition partner ActionSA.

DA’s speaker Katlego Mathebe resigned from the position on Tuesday to make leeway for Makwarela as the DA traded the position to Cope in the coalition agreements, last year.

The coalition consists of the DA, ActionSA, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party, Cope and Inkatha Freedom Party.

Makwarela speaking to Rekord after his election said attaining the speaker position was not easy, adding the month-long coalition negotiations were tough. The negotiations were facilitated by the national leaders of the parties.

He said initially it was agreed that Cope would take the position of MMC for Environment and Agriculture Management department.

Mathebe is now the new MMC of the Environment and Agriculture Management.

Makwarela explained: “At the end of the discussions, all the parties finally convened and decided that with all the expertise to lead the council Cope would be best suited in Tshwane to take over the position of the council speaker.

“The discussions were quite robust and were not easy at all and they had to happen under the spirit of very stringent and tough conditions.”

The trade of the position was decided on in December, like Tshwane mayor Randall Williams, Makwarela attributed the lack of change then to “necessary processes to follow”.

The delay in the election of speaker raised suspicions that there were hurdles in the speaker position change.

“The previous speaker first had to resign but equally it could not be done haphazardly,” Makwarela said.

Makwarela described his appointment as a “blessing in disguise” for Cope which has not had such a position in Gauteng municipalities since it was founded in 2008.

“We (Cope) form a very nice organic glue to bring different parties together and not take sides while in that position. I intend to be accessible to all political parties as the speaker and also treat everybody equally.”

One of his first jobs, Makwarela said, was to ensure the appointment of all oversight committees at council, a matter which has left the Johannesburg council faced with chaos.

“These committees watch over the executive, hold the mayor accountable and the mayoral committee. They will also assist the councillors and ensure that the services reach our people.”

Makwarela said he would also ensure local ward committees would be established.

In a congratulatory speech, Williams said he was pleased with the Cope election, “we are glad that we had a peaceful election and we look forward to working with him (Makwarela).”

Speaking on why the DA traded the position, Williams said the DA had to accommodate six parties in the coalition agreements and it was a matter of “give-and-take”.

“There were intense negotiations putting the coalition together and it was decided by the negotiation team that the position of speaker would go to Cope,” Williams said.

The mayor said he would support the new speaker.

“When there are heated positions, he should remain calm and not be pushed to a certain position because his only role is to take decisions according to the rules of council.”

The ANC did not nominate a candidate during the election of speaker. ANC regional deputy chairperson Aaron Maluleka said he hoped that Makwarela would lead a peaceful council.

“There are no bosses of council here, there was no majority winner but it is just an arrangement of superglue that is here.

“Cllr. Makwarela please make sure that we have ward committees, one thing that Mathebe did not do was to establish those committees. It is very embarrassing not to have ward committees which will be the voice of the people.”

Meanwhile, the EFF councillors did not give a congratulatory speech. About five EFF representatives were present at council except EFF leader Obekeng Ramabodu. The EFF had a picket outside the offices of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to call for stadiums to be open to the public.

Cope leaders, Dennis Bloem and William “Willie” Madisha, the former President of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) were present at council to oversee the election.

WATCH:

[HAPPENING NOW]: People’s picket at the DSAC to demand for the opening of stadiums. #EFFSPortsArtsAndCulturePicket https://t.co/rwAUdOfg6S

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 20, 2022

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