Byline: Andani Matumba

01 August 2022

GMM held its ordinary council meeting at Govan Mbeki Municipality Chambers in Secunda on Thursday, 28 July 2022.

The Democratic Alliance has expressed its views regarding its position when it comes to the Speaker of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Cllr Fikile Magagamela and continues to resist recognizing her as such at the council meeting.

After not attending three council meetings in a row, the members of the Democratic Alliance finally showed face on 28 July 2022.

This follows after a motion has been put forward for the removal of all the councillors who failed to attend council meetings on three consecutive occasions.

In the discussion of the issues arising from the previous meeting, Pr Cllr Daniel Khoza insisted on dealing with the issue of the councillors who have absconded as per unanimous agreement of the members.

DA Cllr, Ciska Jordaan questioned the speaker about the cost implications of sending the letter to the councillors who have failed to attend the previous council meetings and in his response, the GMM Executive Mayor Cllr Nhlakanipho Zuma said, “For every action we take as the municipality, there are cost implications, therefore, why is she not asking for all the costs the municipality incurred”.

In making his point of order to the Mayor’s reply, Cllr Eence Van Huyssteen said the Mayor was talking “Nonsense” and subsequently withdrew his statement.

He further asked if the Speaker was “Deaf or something” after she requested him to withdraw remarks about the mayor.

“You are incompetent and do not know what is going on, you are worse than the previous Speaker,” said Cllr van Huyssteen

According to Cllr Mfanafuthi Maseko, every time there is a council meeting, Cllr van Huyssteen shows the hate he has for the Speaker and he does not even hide that he has no respect for the house.

“To my fellow colleagues, it is embarrassing that you even laugh when he says something unbecoming in this house.

Cllr Van Huyssteen’s behaviour reminds us of what apartheid did to our people,” said Cllr Maseko in his point of order.

After going back and forth about the conduct of Cllr Van Huyssteen and Cllr Maseko, Cllr van Huyssteen rose to the occasion and apologized for the remarks made to the speaker and the mayor.

“I don’t remember saying that you were deaf, I only remember asking you if you were deaf or something and if I said something or if that statement has offended you, I apologise for that,” said van Huyssteen in his withdrawal.