Infighting within the ANC in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) derailed two consecutive council meetings due to a lack of quorum.
During the council meeting on 28 May, quorum could not be reached because ANC councillors failed to attend. The meeting was postponed to today (2 June), but quorum could not be reached yet again due to a boycott by ANC councillors.
A new mayor was supposed to be elected today after the ANC officially recalled the previous Mayor, Sipho Radebe, on 29 May. The ANC admitted that Radebe was recalled due to the large-scale collapse of basic services and a general lack of good governance.
The Municipal Structures Act does not clearly stipulate what steps should be taken next, but it is understood that the Municipal Manager, April Ntuli, must report councillors’ absence.
Councillors who absent themselves from meetings without a valid reason violate the Code of Conduct and could face disciplinary hearings or fines.
A new date for a follow-up meeting has not yet been announced.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) consistently confronted former Mayor Radebe regarding the poor governing of Emfuleni – including issues such as inaccessible roads, minimal refuse removal, inadequate water and electricity supply, sewage spilling into rivers and poor financial management.
The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the Mayor’s forced resignation, but if his successor comes from ANC ranks, the situation is unlikely to improve.
It is time for every voter to register to vote on 4 November and permanently oust the ANC from government in Emfuleni.
Vote for the Freedom Front Plus – an administration that truly has every resident’s best interests at heart.
