Vote of no confidence in Lekwa mayor and speaker rejected overwhelminlgly
He concluded by saying a motion of no confidence is making it difficult for coalition governments to function well.
The last ordinary sitting of the Lekwa council on Thursday, October 27 took a turn when the ANC proposed a motion of no confidence in the mayor and speaker.
Delani Louis Thabethe and Oliver Phiri were respectively cited for not executing their mandates to improve service delivery and not executing their mandates of impartiality to service councillors equally.
According to DA-councillor, Alberto Franco, the signed proposal was submitted the same morning.
“We knew something was coming, but did not know when and how,” Franco said.
He referred to political machinations at other municipalities where coalition agreements have been reached.
“It has been on the cards for a long time,” he added.
Lekwa Community Forum (LCF) with Thabethe and Phiri holding sway, are in coalition with the EFF and African Transformation Movement (ATM).
Numbers-wise the ANC has 13 councillors, the DA four, Freedom Front Plus three, EFF three and ATM one councillor.
Franco is of the opinion that the speaker gives too much leeway when allowing some parties to exceed their allotted time.
“Phiri wants to be seen as not prejudiced.”
The time-frame for a speaking opportunity in council is normally three minutes and the official language is mainly English.
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With regard to the mayor, Franco said Thabethe has been in office in far less than 11 months and listed the positives on his watch such as compliance with Salga and CoGTA, establishing oversight committees fixing of some potholes and appointing a municipal manager and other managers.
“It all took time and the challenge was to get the groundwork ready to set up a framework for service delivery.
”The report of the Auditor-General was seemingly received the same morning.”
An addendum to the proposal was also submitted with more claims against the mayor and speaker, but it was rejected with a show of hands.
The Coligny-sewage line was one of the topics of discussion. At this council meeting, the municipal manager, Malosi Lamola, was in the speaker’s chair.
The ANC nominated their candidate as acting speaker, Lamola recused himself from proceedings, with Phiri not taking part because of the vote of no confidence.
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Franco was finally in the hot seat after his appointment as acting speaker with a majority showing hands.
In a debate whether this process should be formalised by a secret ballot or show of hands, the latter took precedence.
When the motions of no confidence were presented, a majority of councillors voted against it. According to Franco, councillors ran out of technicalities and the meeting was adjourned at 13:00.
“We are not out of the woods yet, but matters are looking positive.
“The DA will still hold the coalition government accountable and monitor service delivery.”
He concluded by saying a motion of no confidence is making it difficult for coalition governments to function well.
“As regards communication, councillors need to be informed of what is happening before it happens.
“We need to inform our residents.”
