The issue of appointing the Govan Mbeki Municipal Manager seems to be at the centre of political instability in the municipality.
A special council meeting to discuss the matter was disrupted by a group of people who were protesting inside the Council Chambers on Friday, 14 July.
They did not give Council a chance to conduct the business of the day, because they were singing revolutionary songs, swore at the mayor and carried placards that read “Flora must go”, referring to the executive mayor, Ms Flora Maboa-Boltman, though she was not in the chambers.
Councillors inside the chambers seemed anxious and worried, though most of them were taking videos of the incident.
Chaos erupted when councillors began to leave the chambers and the protesters became violent and used a fire extinguisher to spray fire suppressant powder inside the chambers.
An ANC councillor, Mr Joseph Mtsweni, collapsed.
He was dragged out of the chambers by his comrades who gave him first aid.
It was unclear where the protesters, mostly youths, came from and what their agenda was, however a source told the newspaper they were against the appointment of the municipal manager who is not from the area.
The source said the protesters want the former municipal manager to return.
Opposition parties condemned the disruption.
Mr Nicholaas van Huyssteen, DA councillor, said: “Council has a duty to do its job and the mayor must ensure that we carry out our mandate by preventing such disruptions from occurring.
“This factional infighting by the ANC is costing the municipality unnecessary money, which ultimately affects ordinary citizens of Govan Mbeki Municipality. The ANC has once again shown that they are unable to govern and deliver much needed services to the people, but all they are interested in is self-enrichment and positioning.”
Mr Sibusiso Hlolweni from Sapromo said: “The barbarians need to be arrested for what they did, one cannot have a legislature that will be open for attack by criminals who do not care about service delivery.
“Sapromo views these people as the Mafia who want to capture the municipality for their own personal gain, which is unacceptable.
“The appointment of the municipal manager is the duty of the council and that cannot be subjected to the members of the public.
“They are said to be against the appointment of the municipal manager, but the manager is not elected but appointed.”
Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, speaker of the council, condemned the disruption and said it shows there are people who are using the youth and the unemployed to achieve their personal agendas.
He said those who are in opposition of the council making decisions that will develop the community, are using the poor.
“We cannot allow that to continue to happen in our municipality and must protect the youth from being used. The council meeting was not aimed at appointing the municipal manager, rather to make a request to Cogta to bring an acting municipal manager to hold office until the situation is stable in the area.”
Some of the furniture, doors and windows were vandalised during the violence.
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