The only item on the agenda was the election of a new mayor for the municipality, which is said to have been “flailing aimlessly” without a mayor since the tragic passing of former mayor Busisiwe Modisakeng, who passed away in January as a result of Covid-19 related complications.

  The meeting was however postponed as a result of procedural matters, leaving the municipality without a mayor for the moment.  

The DA’s Alan McLouglin explained to Vaalweekblad afterward that while the election of a mayor is entirely possible at a special council meeting the swearing in of councillors needs to happen first and this can only happen at a general council meeting in terms of the Municipal Structures Act, Counil Process and the speaker’s previous ruling.  

Besides this no item for the swearing in of councillors was put on the agenda.  

The ANC’s provincial executive committee has already chosen the former mayor of the Lesedi Local Municipality in Heidelberg, Lerato Maloka, to be elected as mayor.   The process of bringing in someone from another outside institution to take over the reins is known as “parachuting”.

  Maloka has already tendered her resignation on Thursday which means that she is currently not the mayor of the Lesedi Local Municipality, nor the Sedibeng District Municipality but hovering in limbo between these two posts.

  Mchloughlin during the meeting read out the relevant bylaws to the speaker, Cllr. Andiswa Mosai, who then adjourned the meeting.

The DA’s whip, Simon Mollo, expressed the opposition party’s disbelief and shock that basic legislation was not followed and that councillors’ time was wasted in this manner. The municipality apologised soon after.

“The special Council meeting was adjourned due to procedural matters that emanated during council proceedings. The chief whips of all political parties – African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA). Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Independent Congress (AIC) and Freedom Front Plus resolved that council be reconvened at a later stage.  

“Sedibeng District Council is a multiparty political governance structure and we will ensure that it is governed procedurally to the best interests of its stakeholders and communities,” says Mosai.

  She extended her apology to the community of Sedibeng and its stakeholders for the inconvenience as the result of the adjournment.   Vaalweekblad understands that a meeting was set up for Friday morning.