The African Transformation Movement (ATM) withdrew its motion of no confidence against the speaker of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Fikile Magagamela, during a council meeting held on Wednesday, April 13.
According to John Nkosi, ATM provincial chairperson, they withdrew the motion because of the differences between the EFF and the DA about the speaker’s position.
“We decided to give the EFF and the DA space to work out their differences and to begin working with us for the betterment of service delivery to our community,” he said.
“We want both parties to put aside their different political ideology for the moment and to put service delivery interest first.”
Nkosi said the ATM was not interested in either position of the speaker or mayor.
“The motion is not permanently withdrawn, it will be re-submitted again.”
The DA staged a walkout at the meeting after Magagamela had returned to the speaker’s seat and began to chair the meeting.
According to DA councillor James Masango, the EFF was adamant that they wanted to occupy the speaker’s position.
“The DA principle is clear that they cannot govern with the EFF,” he said.
“As the motion was put forward by the ATM, it was their motion that was adopted by the council.
“Legally, one cannot withdraw either a motion or item that was adopted by the council because it is no longer an ATM issue but a council matter.”
Masango said the DA was assisting the ATM with their motion but if they decided to withdraw it, the DA couldn’t do anything except be guided by the situation when attending council sittings.
“The DA will continue doing what we do best as an opposition party and hold the ANC accountable because where we govern, we get things done.”
The EFF was currently discussing working together with other opposition parties, including the DA, to take over the municipality from the ANC because all the parties were aware of the alleged corruption and maladministration that had engulfed the municipality and led to its collapse.
“Once we reach common ground as opposition parties and agree on work principle, then we are moving to rectify the wrongs,” said EFF councillor Thabiso Mofokeng.
“We will take over the municipality, then give our community services that they deserve and we will report to law enforcement all those who are involved in looting the municipal coffers, like those mentioned in the Section 106 report.
“Fortunately, we are still with them in the council, the law enforcement work will be easy.”
