By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) wants out of the coalition government with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the City of Ekurhuleni.
The party’s regional task team briefed the media in Germiston on Tuesday, amid the ANC’s implied support of an Action SA-sponsored motion of no confidence against Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana.
The ANC and EFF share five mayoral committee posts each in Ekurhuleni, following the election of Ngodwana as mayor through an ANC-EFF collaboration deal last year, that saw the ousting of the Democratic Alliance’s Tania Campbell.
Last month a council sitting meant to debate the motion of no confidence descended into chaos when a scuffle broke out between ANC and EFF councillors.
The ANC’s regional coordinator Jongizizwe Dlabathi said the demand for a change in leadership is informed by the “glaring regression” of the city’s governance and service delivery capabilities under the current leadership.
“It’s our perspective as the ANC that we need to salvage the city of Ekurhuleni from what may become a total collapse; particularly in the provision of basic services like energy, water, sanitation, repairs and maintenance, as well as our standing of our finances.”
The “missing” auditor-general report remains a contentious issue in the metro, with Finance MMC Nkululeko Dunga accused of breaching the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) by failing to submit the city’s annual financial statements within the legislated deadline.
However, the leadership dispute claims the ANC is seeking to usurp key portfolios, such as finance, from the EFF.
Regional task team deputy convenor Eric Xayiya said they were willing to sit in the opposition benches and won’t be bound by a past decision to work with the EFF in the metro.
“This change will take place, even if it means those deployed are losing their positions, it will take place. We can’t allow this slide to continue, the plug must be pulled. It doesn’t matter when. We are here appointed as the RTT, we have seen the mess, and we won’t allow it to continue.”
As far back as 2016, the City of Ekurhuleni initiated a turnaround strategy, Operation Clean Audit, for the city’s finances. The plan proposed a skills review of personnel in the finance department, monthly reconciliations of key accounts, stringent policy implementation checklists and an agile framework for responding to legislative developments.