Coalition takes action after Tshwane speaker unlawfully ends meeting

22 March 2023

The multi-party coalition in the City of Tshwane condemns in the strongest terms the conduct of Tshwane Speaker Ndzwanana who ended the council meeting to elect the Mayor of the City of Tshwane.

The decision to terminate was unlawful and arose directly because the ANC and EFF faced certain defeat in the election of the Mayor. This follows a period of time in which councillors in the coalition have been removed and replaced for collaborating with the ANC and EFF, effectively ending their artificially bought majority.

The ANC and EFF, along with their partners, have been directly responsible for the instability that has arisen since 28 February which has produced to an unled City whose residents are in need of service delivery. The delaying tactics and termination of the meeting today takes place, once again, at the expense of the residents of Tshwane.

The multi-party coalition met this afternoon and remains unified in our commitment, resolving that a petition will be signed by a majority of councillors (which this majority continues to represent) that demands the Speaker reconvene council tomorrow, 23 March 2023, at 10am. Should this not be adhered to further steps will be pursued in terms of Section 29 of the Municipal Structures Act and approaching the courts if necessary.

In addition to this important step, the multi-party coalition has signed a further petition, once again signed by a majority of councillors, which will convene a council meeting on Friday 24 March 2023 of consider a motion of no confidence in the Speaker. This is necessary to remove the ANC and EFF grasp on the City of Tshwane and the unlawful abuse of council to bring further instability and chaos to a municipality that needs services.

The multi-party coalition remains sensitive to the residents of Tshwane who look on to these affairs with despair when they need stable and resident-centric leadership. This is why we will fight to ensure that the majority awarded to our multi-party coalition is restored to govern the City of Tshwane so that service delivery can be at the centre of the council agenda.

Issued by Cornè Mulder on behalf of the Multi-party Coalition, 22 March 2023