DA TO CALL FOR VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN TSHWANE SPEAKER

The DA in the Tshwane Council is preparing a motion of no confidence in the Speaker of Council.

 

After months of fighting a Speaker who has little respect for debate and democratic process, and even less respect for her colleagues in the opposition benches, we have no other choice.

 

Today the Speaker had me removed from Council because I insisted on responding to her uncritical defence of the flawed and unlawful ward committee elections in Tshwane.

 

She delivered the defence, and took sideswipes at the DA’s criticism of the ward committee elections, in a report which she read to the Council.

 

She allowed no response to the report and tolerated no attempt to open a reasonable debate about its substance.

 

In this way she descended into the arena of political contestation, as has become her habit, and brought her office into disrepute.

 

The DA has had enough of Cllr Audrey Mosupyoe. We know her caucus will be instructed to support her, but believe that our best attempt at calling her to account is in a no confidence debate.

 

The DA will continue to fight for a valid and lawful ward committee election, and is considering various options in this respect. These committees are essential to participatory democracy (as is the ability to debate matters in Council).

 

The Metro’s turnabout on how the ward committee elections are constituted is flawed and does not give grounds to change our view regarding the validity of the election process.