OPPOSITION parties in King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) have called on local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to intervene in the affairs of the Mthatha-based council.
“We appeal to the MEC to closely monitor the political activities of the KSD municipality as it is fast becoming a pigsty,” the UDM, COPE and DA said in a joint statement yesterday.
The parties made the statement after they walked out of a meeting on Monday as the Anc-led council went ahead with what was described as an “illegal” meeting.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that the parties had complained that council’s standing rules on convening meetings and delivery of agendas had been flouted.
In terms of standing rules, the agenda and notice of meetings are supposed to be circulated to councillors seven days in advance. Yesterday, the opposition expressed disappointment at the flouting of the Municipal Structures Act and the constitution by the ruling party in KSD.
“Ever since this council came into being after May 18, we have been an embarrassment to the nation as KSD, by the undermining of the constitution that governs this country as well as other relevant pieces of legislation governing local government.
“In the previous meetings we have been warning the speaker of the dangers of running a council like a spaza shop and it is in that spirit that we decided to walk out of the council proceedings,” the parties said.
Defending their walkout, they said they could not sit in an illegally convened meeting.
In a separate but related issue the DA has written to Qoboshiyane requesting him to intervene in the suspension of councillor Raymond Knock.
Knock was suspended in absentia at the “illegal” meeting pending disciplinary action for allegedly disclosing confidential information to the media in connection with appointment of the municipal manager.
DA local government spokeswoman Veliswa Mvenya described his suspension as unlawful.
“In the Municipal Systems Act, Schedule One, there is no legal basis for summarily suspending a councillor by the council. There are processes that have to be followed.
“Councillor Knock obviously hit a nerve within the ANC camp by pointing out irregularities during the interviewing process for the municipal manager [position],” she said. — mayibongwem@dispatch.co.za
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