By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minority parties in the City of Johannesburg have declared that they will introduce a motion of no confidence against Mayor Mpho Phalatse.
The minority parties, include the AIC, ATM, Cope, UDM, PAC and Al Jama-ah.
At a media briefing addressed by the minority parties in Johannesburg on Monday, Phalatse and the Democratic Alliance (DA) was also accused of failing to serve the needs of the residents in the metro.
Thapelo Amad from Al Jama-ah said Phalatse failed in her duties.
“Media know that she made commitments to the residents of Soweto and she failed to appear, and she made excused that she was sick while she was out of the country somewhere.”
This is not personal, but we understand that we are in the battle field. We are not here by virtue of employment but we are here to make it a point that we hold upon our fiduciary duty as councillors,” Amad said.
Amad added the main issue that upset the minority party in the City of Johannesburg Council was the lack of separation of powers between executive and legislature.
Last week, the same minority parties, with the help of some DA coalition partners, the ANC and EFF, successfully removed council speaker Vasco Da Gama.
Following this success, the same political parties believe Phalatse could be removed in the same fashion.
There are two minority blocs in the council; some are in a coalition agreement with the DA.
The other bloc is not in a coalition agreement and has leaned towards backing the return of the ANC.
Acting speaker Colleen Makhubele, the only Cope councillor in council, held a briefing on Monday along with minority political parties.
Makhubele’s presence surprised her party, which is part of the DA-led coalition government.
She was appointed the chair of chairs for the council as part of the coalition agreement.
Makhubele seemed to have decided to back the minority parties instead of the coalition her party backs.
Phalatse meanwhile said in a statement she had taken note of the utterances of Makhubele, who had purported to be the acting speaker of the council.
The mayor added the standing rules and council orders were clear: when the Office of the Speaker was vacant, an election must be held before it could be filled.
She said: “Makhubele cannot play fast and loose with the country’s laws to grab power.”
Phalatse repeated her earlier utterances that the ANC was attempting to grab power.
Johannesburg is home to six million residents and citizens. It is struggling financially, and its road infrastructure is in progressive collapse. Rolling blackouts and water shedding that go on for days are now regular occurrences.