Todays motions of no confidence to remove Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, Speaker Jonathan Lawack, committee chairpersons and Chief Whip Werner Senekal ended before they officially began.
The motion was being reheard after descending into chaos on 29 March 2018 at the first attempt.
Decorum in the kindergarten that some call council descended into chaos as opposition parties squabbled and criticised the mayor and speaker and finally hummed and interjected non-stop when the DA’s Eastern Cape leader, Councillor Nqaba Bhanga, offered his tributes to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Chris Hani and Solomon Mahlangu.
There were disputes over the time allotted to the tributes and whether the city had lowered its flags to half-mast. In between their earnest salutes to Madikizela-Mandela, Hani and Mahlangu, opposition councillors jibed, laughed and made constant reference to the land issue.
At one point ANC Councillor Andile Lungisa said that in South Africa Black on White Violence did not exist saying that only ‘White on Black Violence existed’.
The ANC and EFF interrupted PA (Patriotic Alliance) Councillor Marlon Daniels, who would probably save the DA-led administration after switching his allegiances.
The sitting essentially came to a close when Bhanga was drowned out as councillors hummed over him. Some called him a murderer and refused to listen, referring to the two girls killed in a car accident in which his bodyguard was involved.
Turning to the official business of the day, Lawack said he would not take points of order. Hands shot up and the sitting became confused.
“Councillors, you are collapsing this meeting,” said Lawack. “You’re the one collapsing this meeting,” they shouted back.
Speaker of the House, Lawack abruptly said the meeting was “permanently adjourned”, suggesting that opposition councillors will have to resubmit their motions of no confidence and petition the speaker before they can be reheard.
As the adults exited the chamber the younger children remained behind – singing, dancing and play electing their own Mayor.
Alan Straton
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