Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Ofentse Madzebatela here
The collapse of oversight structures within the City of Tshwane Council led by the ANC-Action SA-EFF coalition, is cause for grave concern.
The new administration, constituted on 18 October 2024, gave their undertaking to residents that they themselves, and employees of the City would be held to the highest standards of accountability, and that service delivery would continue uninterrupted, but this has not proved true.
Less than a month later, they have dismally fallen short of their promises.
As early as 11 October 2024, committee meetings of Council stopped taking place. For the month of November 2024 alone, 14 committee meetings have either been postponed or cancelled.
Postponed oversight meetings are the signs of a legislature that is not following the letter of the law. The residents of the City of Tshwane deserve better.
The Rules and Orders By-Laws of the council prescribing the frequency and running of the Section 79 committee meetings, stipulates that a councillor must attend all meetings of a municipal council and the committees of which that councillor is a member.
The speaker of council must ensure that these meetings take place and hold those who do not attend them to account.
The DA will ensure that the new ANC-ActionSA-EFF government is held accountable, inside and out of committees.
As the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, I call on the Speaker of Council to get his house in order. The government of the day must account.