MEC deflects no confidence motion

By Staff Reporter

Outgoing cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Sisi Ntombela has intervened to halt a special meeting aimed at debating a second motion of no confidence against Maluti-a-Phofung executive mayor Vusi Tshabalala.

The special council meeting was called by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in a follow up to their first motion which hit a snag for safety reasons after a flare up of chaos and violence necessitated the abandonment of debates on the motion. The second special council sitting which was scheduled for March 20, 2018 was called off by the MEC, who said the appointed administrator responsible for running the municipality did not approve the meeting…

According to a statement signed by Ntombela and addressed to the speaker, Malewatle Nthedi, who has been warned about the limitations to her powers in terms of council meeting during the term of administrator’s intervention.

The letter which was also later shared with councilors, warns Nthedi against holding a special council sitting proposed by EFF.

“It has come to my attention that you have called a special council which is scheduled for 20 March 2018.You are hereby informed to cancel the intended meeting as approval thereof has not been granted by the appointed administrator for your municipality ,” said Ntombela.

Ntombela said this was in line with a previous communication which stipulated that the provincial Executive Council had on 10 February passed a resolution to intervene at the Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality in terms of section 139(1) b of the Constitution.

“In operationalizing the intervention, on 22 February 2018, I have appointed Mr. Tekoetsile Moses Moremi as the administrator of Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality.“

The speaker was also reminded that her powers to call a council meeting are limited to the approval of the administrator.

“Take notice of that the council is not dissolved by the current intervention; the council is constrained as it may only exercise legislative powers including the authority to perform functions in respect of the period of the intervention. The speaker may only call and convene council meetings subject to the approval of the administrator

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