By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has survived a motion of no confidence after the majority of political parties in the Gauteng legislature voted against it.
This was the first time Lesufi has faced such a motion since the formation of his minority government last year.
The motion was brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which was prompted by the recent disbandment of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, which Lesufi established without any constitutional mandate.
DA leader Solly Msimanga, argued that Lesufi violated Section 41(1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution, which prohibit government entities from assuming powers not granted to them or encroaching on the functions of another sphere of government.
“Under Section 206(4) of the Constitution, provincial governments do not have policing powers, only oversight and monitoring functions,” he said.
He pointed to the Public Protector’s findings that establishing, appointing, deploying and allowing crime wardens to conduct operations with the South African Police Services (SAPS) without legal authority, was in fact irregular.
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka ruled that deployment of the crime wardens was unconstitutional and unlawful.
According to the Public Protector, the deployment of crime wardens was unlawful in that it was in violation of Section 41(1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution, which prohibits government entities from assuming powers not granted to them or encroaching on the functions of another sphere of government.
Lesufi has since announced that the wardens will be “repurposed”, with some set to be retrained as Gauteng Traffic Wardens.
The African National Congress (ANC) leads a minority coalition in Gauteng, but with the informal support of the MK party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has so far governed without significant disruption or opposition.
The ANC won 34.76% of the May 29 provincial ballot, compared with 50.2% five years ago. The Democratic Alliance, which supported Lesufi’s nomination, got 27.4% of the vote and the Economic Freedom Fighters 12.9%.
Most of the political parties in the Gauteng Legislature refused to support the motion of no confidence against Lesufi.
Only the DA voted in favour of removing him, while all the other parties, including those in the opposition, voted for Lesufi to remain in office.
Parties that rejected the motion argued that the DA’s proposal was frivolous and pointed out that it was the DA itself that helped elect Lesufi last year.
Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Morakane Mosupyoe confirmed that all 80 members were present for the vote of no confidence, with 54 voting against and 24 in favour.
Following the announcement, ANC members in the chamber broke into celebratory songs as Lesufi survived the motion.
Gauteng makes up a third of South Africa’s gross domestic product. Coalition governments in key municipalities in the province, such as Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni — which includes the country’s biggest airport — have been unstable, with infighting between parties that’s hampered service delivery.