Chaos erupted at the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s council meeting held on Thursday, January 3.
This happened when the speaker, Cllr Fikile Magagamela, asked African Transformation Movement councillor Lwadile Ziwele to leave the chamber.
Cllr Ziwele and the speaker argued about a motion to reinstate the former municipal manager, Felani Mndebele, which was item number 11 that led to the adjournment of the last council meeting.
Cllr Ziwele was addressing the council on what had transpired in the speaker’s absence in the previous council meeting.
Magagamela had left the previous council sitting because she was not feeling well.
The main issue that divided the council was the suspension of council standing orders for the motion to proceed which was supported by the majority members of the council.
But because of the disagreement between council members, it was decided that the matter be taken to vote where the majority in council won and standing orders were suspended for that motion to proceed.
Cllr Ziwele raised a point of order when the mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, instead of the speaker, began to greet everyone.
Ziwele accused the speaker of not having an interest in the meeting, because, according to him, she was supposed to rule on the motion on the table or take to vote.
The speaker told him to sit down, but Ziwele insisted she rule on what he has proposed.
The mayor told the speaker that at some point she must use her authority to install order in this council as she has the power to remove any councillor who causes instability.
Mayor Zuma told the council that the speaker has the power to rule on the motion on whether it stands or not. He said they must agree as a council, that they made an error because the motion touches on contractual obligation with regards to employment.
Zuma said such matters are not allowed for public consumption as it is in the hands of the judiciary and should be considered in committee.
The speaker also referred the matter to committees, that’s where the heated agreement started with Cllr Ziwele.
Cllr Ziwele accused the speaker of recognising only certain parts of the council’s standing orders and overlooking others.
“We raised it clear on section 47 of the standing orders that this matter must be taken to a vote, now it is very clear that you are being assisted by the mayor thinking that he is the superpower to tell the council what to do.
“As councillors, we must not allow that. Speaker, you misled the council last week to claim that you were sick and then you appointed someone else while you went and sat outside in your car.
“Please take the matter to a vote and stop entertaining certain parties,” said Cllr Ziwele.
The speaker then told the acting municipal manager to call law enforcers to remove Ziwele from the chamber after a heated argument.
Ziwele was forcefully removed from the council chamber.
EFF councillors fought hard to stop the law enforcers from removing Ziwele.
During this debacle, a group of men entered the council chamber.
Some councillors told the speaker that they no longer felt safe because the men who entered were carrying knives.
The speaker ruled that the public, the media and municipal stakeholders leave the council chambers. She promised to contact the police to assist the law enforcers.
Council adjourned without even a single police van or officer visible in the municipal yard.
The adjournment of the council still stands on the motion of the reinstatement of the former municipal manager that was put forward by the EFF and was supported by the DA, ATM, ARP and IFP who are together a majority above the ruling party.
