The newly elected mayor, Trompie Renier (left), the new Speaker, Marius Basson (top right), and the new acting municipal manager, Monde Alistair January (bottom right). Picture: Supplied
THE MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, held an urgent meeting at Kai !Garib Municipality on Thursday after a vote of no confidence was passed against the ANC mayor and Speaker and a new acting municipal manager was appointed on Wednesday.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Coghsta, Babalwa Mzambo said the MEC was informed that a meeting was called at short notice to remove the mayor and Speaker, where regulations were not followed.
“The appointment of an acting municipal manager was apparently done without following proper recruitment and appointment regulations. Upon receiving such disturbing news and in the spirit of intergovernmental relations, the MEC requested an urgent meeting to salvage this situation and reach an amicable solution,” said Mzambo.
The newly-elected acting municipal manager of Kai !Garib Municipality, Monde Alistair January, said a special council meeting was convened on Wednesday.
He stated that the council comprised of 10 ANC councillors, four members from Hope for the Future, three DA, one FF+ and one EFF councillor.
“The majority of councillors (nine opposition plus one ANC councillor) requested a special council meeting. Councillors believe that the Speaker maliciously misled council into believing that the appointment of the acting municipal manager as seconded by the correspondence of the Department of Coghsta was non-compliant and failed to request a legal opinion in order for council to take an informed decision.
“They further indicated that the Speaker openly undermines the whole of council by displaying disrespectful behaviour and is placing the municipality and the administration in disrepute.”
January added that a vote of no confidence was passed against the Speaker, Ethell Vass, and the mayor, Marshall Matthys.
“Marius Basson was elected as the new Speaker and Trompie Renier as the new mayor.”
He stated that the council owed Eskom almost R1 billion and was unable to pay medical aid, pension funds and other third parties.
“Council further deliberated on the processes to stabilise the municipality. A new acting municipal manager (Monde Alistair January) was appointed as council rescinded the appointment of the former acting municipal manager who maliciously misled council. The repercussions are very serious and could have a financial implication to the municipality.”
ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga believed that the opposition staged a “bogus vote of no confidence” to destabilise the ANC-led council and “undermine the will of the people”.
“It is aimed at distracting us from focusing on the 2024 national general elections. Our elected Speaker, mayor and municipal manager shall remain in their posts. We urge the MEC for Coghsta to act fast against the opposition’s intolerable behaviour which is a malicious act to sabotage service delivery,” said Ngxanga.