Action SA calls on Cogta MEC to intervene in City of Ekhurhuleni Council

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Action SA says they are tired of delaying tactics displayed by City of Ekurhuleni Council Speaker Raymond Dhlamini who keeps on running away every time he has to face the music in the council.

ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson Bongani Baloyi says the constitution empowers the MEC to intervene if the municipality fails to perform their duties.

“Section 139 of the Constitution empowers the Local Government MEC to intervene when a municipality is unable to fulfil an Executive obligation in terms of the Constitution or legislation.”

“Dhlamini walked out of special council meeting, where he was set to face a motion of no confidence and the city’s adjustment budget was set to serve, leading to a breakdown in the council meeting” says Baloyi.

The municipality has been marred with chaos and disruption, same as the City of Johannesburg with parties fighting for the top positions.

Baloyi also said that irrespective of the motion tabled against him as the speaker he is still expected to perform his duties in the council for as long as he still the speaker.

He said that maybe it is about time the MEC Mzi Khumalo intervenes taking into consideration that this is not the first time something like this happens and the unfortunate thing is that the resident’s continue to be the one who suffer the most.

“The City of Ekurhuleni cannot be held ransom by the undemocratic practices of its Speaker, and the continued delays in council business by the DA-led coalition are further exacerbating the existing service delivery issues in that city.  There is a human cost to his dilatory tactics; the people of Ekurhuleni suffer most in the end.”

“As such ActionSA will formally write to MEC Khumalo requesting he urgently intervene in the City of Ekurhuleni to protect the residents from further declines in the delivery of basic services.”

“As a constructive opposition in the City of Ekurhuleni, ActionSA does not seek to destabilise the DA-led coalition. But, as a party that values the rule of law, we will ensure that no public official engages in the undemocratic conduct – regardless of which political party they are from” concluded Baloyi.