Bully tactics, threats of violence and intimidation derailed the scheduled motion of no confidence (MONC) against Thanduxolo Khalipha, the executive mayor of Matjhabeng on Wednesday afternoon.
The MONC against Khalipha was put forward by opposition parties and arose when he pushed for the appointment of the municipal manager, adv. Lonwabo Ronald Ngoqo, who was previously dismissed from the Bitou Local Municipality due to financial misconduct.
“The motion is due to the complete collapse of infrastructure and the delivery of basic services being non-existent,” says Igor Scheurkogel, DA councillor for the Matjhabeng municipality.
The opposition party members who wanted to take part in the process of the MONC arrived at the municipal building, only to be threatened and heckled. Some were even physically pushed around by angry ANC members who were defending the mayor.
This mass of people had been bussed in by the ANC to harass the opposition members attending the MONC.
“The DA in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality was not afforded their right to democracy and freedom of speech in Council.
“As tensions rose, the MONC was deferred to the next council meeting. Khalipha has stood back and allowed the ANC to intimidate and threaten the opposition, proving he has he failed his mandate of depoliticising the municipality. There was an understanding that the police would be present to control the crowds and ensure the safety of all opposition councillors. Late afternoon, there was no police present,” says Scheurkogel.
“The executive mayor has accepted the continuation of a culture of unreliable non-responsiveness and dereliction of their duties.”
Scheurkogel says the MONC has not lapsed according to section 55 of the standard rules and orders, but has been deferred to the next council sitting which is set to take place at the end of the month.
“Such deferment is not due to the lack of merit in the proposed motion but rather the knowledge of attending Wednesday’s council sitting would have been a futile exercise. We remain assertive in the persecution of the MONC and will not deviate from the ultimate goal of better services for all,” says Scheurkogel.
