A council meeting was held in chambers, and although it was devoted to the youth of 1976, many other matters were also raised.
This took place on Thursday, June 29 and it mainly dealt with the youth of 1976 who resisted racial domination, and fought against the unjust system which sought to indoctrinate them through, among other things, forcing them to study in Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at their schools. This subjected them to inferior education known then as Bantu education.
Several councillors and officials wore their school uniform in honour of that generation. The executive mayor, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, who is forced by protocol to dress in a gown, later changed into her school uniform after formal proceedings.
“All councillors in uniform today; you look beautiful,” remarked the Council Speaker, Busi Hlumbane.
Before proceedings could go further, the executive mayor introduced an official seconded to the municipality from national treasury.
“We have got support from national treasury, we wish to introduce Mr Louis Burger, and he will assist as a financial technical advisor. He will be with us in terms of his secondment from national treasurer. He will be in Emalahleni Local Municipality for three years. He will be specifically working with the finance department to assist to improve our situation,” said Cllr Ntshalintshali.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) chief whip, Cllr Naritha Naidu questioned council’s future plans in housing people located at Spring Valley. ‘Spring Valley is currently on private land and there are 5000 stands there, what is our future plan?’
The executive mayor reminded the council meeting that there is a portion in Spring Valley which is on council land and there are other parts on private land.
“Part of Spring Valley has a portion which belongs to council, we can formalise that portion and develop it, but there is a portion which is privately owned, and there is a court decision that people must be moved to Klarinet, hence there was land which was bought to relocate them,” she said.
The Executive Mayor of the Emalahleni Local Municipality, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, with members of the council all dressed in their school uniform in celebration of youth month. This was at the council meeting on Thursday, June 29.
She revealed that there are 800 houses which have been built, and in Duvha Park, water and electricity infrastructure is currently being erected with an aim of building houses later.
She said part of the challenge with people residing in Spring Valley is that some are migrant workers, others are non South Africans and as such do not qualify for government built houses.
“We cannot be seen to be in contempt of the court order that people there must move, but they are resisting. When we move the property, the owner must also take responsibility and make sure they do not go back,” she said.
There was a stand-off between the African National Congress and the DA on an item to ‘review of standing rules of order.’ Cllr Naidu sharply differed with recommendation which she said goes against councillors fundamental human rights.
“We now have recommendations that we need to write to you for media and members of the public to attend meetings. Since when do we have to prescribe the dress code? We feel that our fundamental right and freedom of expression is being trampled on based on the fact that we have limited space to move around the meeting. Are we becoming a militarised organisation that even our cell phones will be taken away?” she said.
Ntshalintshali blamed the DA for not participating in formulating standing rules.
“We need your inputs to enrich this document, we are noting all issues raised here. Next time you must make inputs on time and express your views,” said Ntshalintsali.
“The public and media must respect these chambers and dress in a way that is generally acceptable,” she added.
The meeting was interrupted for five minutes when the DA then discussed this matter privately, and returned without requesting a vote on the matter by all members who attended.
Other issues were also raised in the meeting, but did not cause as much unhappiness as the abovementioned argument.
