By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula is confident that Wednesday’s council meeting in Tshwane would proceed and a mayor would be elected within the mandated 14 days.
Cilliers Brink was removed from his position through an ANC-sponsored motion of no confidence that was supported by 120 councillors, while 87 voted against the motion and one member abstained.
During a media briefing on the outcomes of a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, Mbalula confirmed that the party is in ongoing talks with various political parties regarding metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng.
Mbalula emphasised that the ANC is “fully aware” of the situation in Tshwane, noting that the municipality “has been run down over the years”.
The NWC had received a detailed report on Tshwane which pointed to deterioration of service delivery and governance in the city.
“The NWC fully supports the need to put in place the type of government of local unity that can urgently address the pressing concerns of the people across the city. This must be the type of government that prioritises all residents of Tshwane, and not only some section of the population,”Mbalula said.
He also addressed the DA’s threat to pull out of negotiations in other municipalities, including eThekwini and Ekurhuleni, clarifying that no agreement has been reached between the ANC and the party on the future of Tshwane.
DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille gave the ANC an ultimatum to reinstate Brink or risk instability in the metro. She warned that if the ANC failed to back Brink, it would risk discussions over the DA and ANC cooperating in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay and eThekwini.
The approach of the DA that we should either bring back Brink or nothing is not acceptable to the National Working Committee.
“The ANC is engaging all parties that are keen to work with us to set up an inclusive, viable and effective coalition government that puts the people of Tshwane first before party political interests,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula insisted that a new mayor will be elected on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Mbalula has dismissed allegations of harboring a personal vendetta against Gauteng provincial leader Panyaza Lesufi.
Mbalula requested a meeting with Lesufi on Monday.
Lesufi has been involved in several public spats, including one with Zille, after she claimed he undermined the Government of National Unity (GNU) coalition.
Mbalula clarified that the meeting was not disciplinary but rather an attempt to better understand Lesufi’s statements.
“Comrade Panyaza presented himself to the national officials of the ANC and provided an explanation that was accepted. It is in line with the ANC’s culture to give comrades a hearing when their actions may raise concerns about bringing the party into disrepute,” said Mbalula.
When Brink took over as mayor 18 months ago (from the DA’s Randall Williams) he was candid about the City’s severe financial constraints, part of which he attributed to the previous ANC-led administration that had been at the helm for nearly two decades before being replaced by a DA-led coalition in 2016.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke commended Tshwane for improving its outcome from an adverse audit opinion to a qualified opinion by taking steps to implement prior-year audit recommendations.