Mayor disappointed by council conduct

The Executive Mayor, Alderwoman Tania Campbell, expressed her disappointment with the recent proceedings of the Council sitting held on February 2, in the Germiston Council Chambers.

In a statement, the Mayor emphasized that certain political parties have brought the decorum of the House into question, with their actions reflecting their priority for personal gain over serving the residents of the city.

The Mayor also stated her disappointment with certain officials who have become tools of politicians, hindering service delivery and working towards regime change at any cost.

Despite the chaos in the Council, the Mayor supports the decision of Council Speaker, Cllr. Raymond Dlamini, to take the illegal council sitting and its resolutions to court for overturning.

Mayor Campbell affirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the law and stated that they will never stay silent in the face of wrongdoing.

Opposition party responds to court bid

The African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni have quickly responded to the urgent Court application by the Speaker to nullify the council meeting held in his absence.

The council proceeded to begin the replacement of resigned Council Chief Whip, Alderman Khetha Shandu and elected Jongizizwe Dlabathi of the ANC.

The main opposition party in the metro council has criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA) for its recent efforts to retain power in the City of Ekurhuleni through the abuse of the courts.

The ANC is taking a stand against this tactic and will be joining the court proceedings as friends of the court.

According to the ANC, the DA has a history of making false accusations and insulting those who win control of metropolitan municipalities through legitimate democratic processes. The party is accused of disregarding democracy in its pursuit of power and neglecting the needs of working-class communities.

“Since the 2021 Local Government Elections, the City of Ekurhuleni has seen a significant decline in infrastructure maintenance and the delivery of basic services, particularly in townships,” said the party.

The ANC further alleges that the city is now plagued by potholes, overgrown grass, and raw sewage running openly on the streets.

The party calls on the City of Ekurhuleni to reject the DA’s attempts to abuse the courts and to prioritize the well-being of its residents.