By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Ekurhuleni chief whip and DA councillor Khetha Shandu has resigned amid plots to oust him in a planned motion of no confidence.
Shandu said on Wednesday his resignation would be effective immediately.
His resignation follows oversight chairperson, Pieter Henning who left citing a ”total lack of service delivery” as the reason for leaving.
Shandu was facing a motion of no confidence alongside speaker Raymond Dhlamini, and we understand it is still on the council’s meeting agenda.
Dhlamini, had filed an urgent application to prevent the sitting of the council, which the City manager, Imogen Mashazi, had called for 30 January.
The urgent court matter was preceded by a chaotic council sitting on 26 January.
Dhlamini had, on 26 January, presided over a council sitting which had included an agenda item on his fitness to hold office.
A no confidence motion in Dhlamini was filed by smaller opposition political parties. When the motion was to be heard, there were chaotic scenes as councillors clashed with council staffers.
Dhamini said the Ekurhuleni city manager would have to inform the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to prepare for the election of a new whip.
Ekurhuleni is a hung municipality, with no political party holding a majority in the council.
The DA governs the metro in a minority coalition with the African Christian Democratic Party, Cope and Freedom Front Plus.
Last year, the mayor, Tania Campbell, was briefly ousted in a motion of no confidence brought by the ANC.
A political dispute between the ANC and the EFF ensured Campbell was re-elected as mayor after the two parties failed to clinch an agreement.