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Another Failed Attempt To Disrupt A Council Meeting

By

Dear Editor

On Tuesday we had yet another eventful Council meeting.

The motion of the Patriotic Alliance against the Speaker was not urgent nor competent. All items on the agenda were debated and completed.

Even the frivolous ones by the opposition parties were debated.

More than 10 ANC councilors, led by Cllrs Feni, Mani, Mleve, Koko, Gama and others, wasted 35 minutes blocking MMC Dries Van Der Westhuizen from talking.

These councillors surrounded him, pushing and screaming around the MMC. Their pretext for their conduct was that they differed with his input.

A crucial ploy to disrupt the adoption of the mid-term budget by this faction of the ANC failed.

The budget is key in their minds for paving the way for the planned Section 12 ANC take-over of the Metro.

The vigour with which they attempted to disrupt the meeting was worse than anything we have seen in 11 previous displays by the ANC of disruptive conduct in council.

Another disruptive opportunity was when Gama accused myself of outright corruption for opening manganese businesses in the Markman area in 2020, for continously doing business with the municipality and influencing tenders for my personal benefit and failing to declare my business interests as required by law.

They claim I only disclosed my interests in December 2022.

On the grounds of these utterances, Gama was supported by no less than 15 ANC councillors, shouting on top of their voices that I must resign or be fired on the spot.

When the Executive Mayor, was appointed to speak, another ANC contingent of councillors, including the former Speaker, Cllr Mafaya shouted the Mayor down.

The ANC did the same thing, as during MMC van der Westhuizen, surrounded the microphone and prevented anyone who was not ANC to participate.

They were determined not to allow any counter to their argument, clarity or questions on the subject.

Cllr Maqula claimed that he had his hands what he said was evidence against me and said no further information was needed.

All of the above happened between 16H00 and 19h00.

After the Speaker brought calm to the house the City Manager explained to councillors the procedures that are followed when such allegations are made.

After that, more items were tabled and debated.

By 21h00 all items on the agenda were done and the mid-term budget was approved and adopted.

It was felt the motion of exigency tabled by the PA could be dealt with in the next meeting.

A meeting that started at 10:00 am finally ended about 12 hours later.

Regards

Khusta Jack
Deputy Mayor Nelson Mandela Bay

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.