HIGHVELD – Democratic Alliance in Govan Mbeki Municipality is accusing the municipal speaker Ms Fikile Nyembe of being biased.
“We are appalled that in only a few months since the appointment of Ms Nyembe as the speaker, she has proven to be biased in favour of the ruling party (ANC), she is unable to control the council and its meetings, and she resorts to autocratic behaviour,” said Ciska Jordaan, DA Caucus leader.
The DA accused the speaker after the council meeting that was held on the 14 January, that she failed to apply standing orders of the council despite repeated pleas to adhere to these standing orders which lead to gross bias and autocracy, said DA.
This came after the item of filling a vacancy in the department of planning and development was tabled with a recommendation from the MMC for planning and development, Ms Thandi Ngxonono and chief whip of the council, Mr Doctor Mtshali. They were included in the interviewing panel although they had been implicated in the section 106 forensic investigation report which had revealed that they have been “found to advance their personal interests in nepotistic appointments of employees and contractors in the municipality”.
“Both are facing internal disciplinary proceedings as the investigations regarding the same report are still underway, as it constitutes conflict of interests while these two proceedings are not yet concluded, especially when the findings against individuals are related to undesirable appointments,” said the DA.
Following a debate on the matter, as the DA was surprised by the speaker’s ruling on the matter as she was in defense of the ANC when the section 106 report was mentioned. She decided to rule on the matter without consulting the standing orders of the council or considering a proposal made by DA to democratically subject the item to a vote.
“The speaker then adjourned the meeting by her own accord, as her behaviour is a gross contravention of representative nature of the council and the democratic principles of governance, as it is unacceptable,” said Ms. Jordaan.
When the speaker was contacted by the newspaper for comment, she said she cannot comment on the matter now, maybe later because of some legality around it.
