Govan Mbeki Municipality’s council meeting called off
“We contradict our own standing orders we adopted as council. We adopted the delegation of powers to the mayor, but today, we are disputing that resolution,” said speaker.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality council speaker, Fikile Magagamela, called off the council meeting on November 28 because some councillors rejected MMC Aron Mbokazi to act as the mayor.
The Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, could not attend the meeting. Magagamela read Zuma’s letter of apology, which stated he had an urgent court appearance and that his duties were to be performed by Mbokazi. Noise erupted after the speaker read aloud Zuma’s decision to appoint an acting mayor himself, not a council.
Magagamela then said in June, the same council agreed on the delegation of powers to the mayor and now they changed that.
Magamela said they are contradicting themselves as a council.
“We contradict our own standing orders we adopted as council. We adopted the delegation of powers to the mayor, but today, we are disputing that resolution,” said Magagamela.
The EFF Clr, Daniel Khoza, said they don’t dispute the mayor’s letter of apology but for him to impose Mbokazi to act on his behalf.
“The standing orders do not supersede the Municipal Structures Act and the constitution. We as a council need to decide who should act as the mayor, not the other way around,” said Khoza.
The municipal manager, Elliot Maseko, said Zuma has done nothing wrong. Maseko quoted the Municipal Structures Act and constitution sections that allow the delegation of powers of the mayor. Maseko said his advice to the council is that the speaker must adjourn the meeting for another day.
“Then we all go to seek legal opinion,” he said.
Magagamela then adjourned the meeting until December 4.
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