Less than 24 hours after Democratic Alliance (DA) Cilliers Brink was elected mayor of Tshwane after defeating Congress of the People (Cope) member Ofentse Moalusi, Johannesburg council speaker Colleen Makhubele confirmed the opposition party will bring a motion to remove Brink. “Tshwane is difficult with numbers. Our coalition lost two EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] councilor and one ANC councilor who died,” he said. “We have not seen the last of Tshwane. They are regrouping, they are talking with partners, even those we know in the multiparty coalition are not happy with the country of the multiparty coalition…
Less than 24 hours after Democratic Alliance (DA) Cilliers Brink was elected mayor of Tshwane after defeating Congress of the People (Cope) member Ofentse Moalusi, Johannesburg council speaker Colleen Makhubele confirmed the opposition party will bring a motion to remove Brink.
“Tshwane is difficult with numbers. Our coalition lost two EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] councilor and one ANC councilor who died,” he said.
“We haven’t seen the last of Tshwane. They are gathering again, they are talking to their partners, even those we know in the multiparty coalition are not happy with the situation of the multiparty coalition and that’s why they voted with the previous mayor in Dr Murunwa Makwarela,” he said.
‘The numbers are not on our side in Tshwane’
He added that those who elected former councilor Cope Makwarela as mayor are still there because they are not happy with the multiparty coalition.
“They are still there and willing to support our coalition, but only when we can see the numbers are not on our side because of the people who are not there.”
On Thursday, a motion of no confidence is expected against Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell. The move will be made because the ANC-led coalition and the EFF have the numbers.
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Makhubele said he is looking forward to putting a new mayor in Ekurhuleni and it will be interesting because Ekurhuleni has got numbers. But he could not answer that his party will choose a candidate for mayor.
“Negotiations are still ongoing. The EFF will decide who to trust. Of course, we want them to see the quality of leadership that Cope brings,” Makhubele said.
‘I don’t owe you an explanation’
He defended his decision to attend the Tshwane council while on sick leave, saying he had no explanation to offer to anyone.
Last week, Makhubele came to Tshwane to sit for the election of the mayor when he was going to preside over the 12th ordinary meeting of the Johannesburg council, but filed for leave, due to illness.
In his absence, ActionSA Gauteng provincial leader Funzi Ngobeni indicated that he would refer Makhubele to the council’s ethics committee because he failed to chair two council meetings and instead chose to attend party squabbles.
Also read: Cilliers Brink DA elected mayor of City of Tshwane
He said the party was dismayed to see him attend a Tshwane council meeting that was reportedly meant to address a dispute within Cope’s own party over new councillors.
“Makhubele surrendered himself to be a member of the audience in the council of Tshwane, while the council itself was being held. He was blatantly and clearly in dereliction of duty for the City of Joburg and as such has a case to answer,” Ngobeni said.
“[She] always prioritize the interests of political parties above the interests of the people of Johannesburg.
Makhubele said “resolutions were taken and the council meeting went smoothly” in his absence.
Also read: ActionSA replaces sacked councilor in City of Tshwane ahead of mayoral election
“There’s no law that says if you’re sick you have to sleep. We don’t owe anyone information about my whereabouts when I’m sick. I was supposed to be back on April 10 because I had an operation four weeks ago.
– lungam@citizen.co.za