EKURHULENI Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana has been given a lifeline.
This after his allies, EFF, put up a spirited fight to fend off attacks led by ActionSA and ANC and supported by DA and other political parties in Council.
On Tuesday, 12 March, the ActionSA hoped its motion of no confidence against Ngodwana would succeed during an ordinary Council meeting held at OR Tambo government Precincts in Germiston.
However, the motion was deferred to allow the speaker, Nthabiseng Tshivenga, time to seek legal opinion on the amendment brought by the ANC and DA.
The DA wants the whole Council dissolved, while the ANC is pushing for a resolution that states the majority party must take the lead.
ActionSA caucus leader Siyanda Makhubu said they won't back off in the mission to unseat the mayor.
"Service delivery has been a major problem in the city under the leadership of the 'puppet' mayor.
"The speaker defended his party, the EFF," he said.
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ANC chief whip Jongizizwe Dlabathi said the council speaker ended the meeting prematurely.
"We are disappointed about the erupt manner in which that decision was taken to adjourn the meeting," said Dlabathi.
Responding to the speaker’s actions, the chairman of the EFF in Gauteng, Nkululeko Dunga, said they are in support of the mayor and the people’s government.
“Yes, there are challenges that we have noted and trying to correct, but instead of engaging in programmes of action, they became policemen and women on portfolios that the EFF is leading.
“The ANC wants to sway the meeting in their favour by voting them into mayorship. It should be the council that comes to the determination,” he said.
Dunga refuted claims that the EFF is in coalition with the ANC.
"What coalition? We have never had a coalition with anyone, just had a collaborative effort working with a mayor of AIC.
“We have mere differences that I believe we can overcome as political leaders,” he said.
