DA’s bid to collapse Joburg council fails

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The Democratic Alliance(DA) bid to collapse the Joburg council through motion of no confidence has failed after the majority of councillors voted against the party’s motion.

165 councillors rejected the DA’s motion, while 63 voted in favour of it during an ordinary council meeting convened at the Constance Conny Bapela Council Chamber in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on Thursday.

DA Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party’s call to dissolve the council was not one made lightly, “but rather out of deep concern for the current state of governance” in the city.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku told councillors she believed the revolving door of mayors and speakers did not inspire confidence for investments and economic growth.

????In Council today: The DA in Johannesburg's Caucus Leader Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku tables a motion of the dissolution of council. #RescueJoburg pic.twitter.com/YXLJUknv3W

— DA Joburg Caucus (@DA_JHB) November 30, 2023

“It is evident that the council has been marked by inefficiency, infighting, squabbles for positions and a lack of meaningful progress in addressing the pressing issues facing our residents.

“The decision to dissolve the council should be seen as an opportunity to reset our city in a way that better serves the needs of our residents.

“Over the part year, we have witnessed a lack of effective leadership and an inability to address key challenges such as the water crisis, power supply and other service delivery related challenges. All these contribute negatively to the economic growth of our city,” she said.

While parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters refused to support the motion, the DA’s coalition partner, ActionSA, said the motion was immature and lacked substance.

ActionSA Joburg Caucus objected the shortsighted Motion to disolve the Council which was brought by the @Our_DA . Here is what @ActionSA_JHB Caucus Leader @cllr_mthembu has to say pic.twitter.com/9wcf1fhCx4

— ActionSA JHB Caucus (@ActionSA_JHB) November 30, 2023

Meanwhile, Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said he welcomes the rejection of the DA to dissolve the council.

“Once more, the council of the city has refused to be held at ransom by the DA and its deliberate attempts to gain political relevance at the expense of service delivery to the over six million residents of the city.

“In November 2021, the residents of the city elected the current council, whose current constitution is a reflection of the democratic choices of the citizens of our city. 

“To seek to undermine the wishes of the electorate is a violation of the very democratic principles the DA claims to represent and fight for and as the government of local unity, we will continue to defend the rights of council and the democratic choices of the residents of the city. 

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Gwamanda added that the city is concerned of the destructive behaviour of the DA in the affairs of council and administration in the city.

He continued; “Through frivolous litigations and motions, they(DA) have sought by all means to collapse and render Johannesburg dysfunctional as it has done in Tshwane. 

“It has sought to collapse every tenet of good governance and democratic outcomes to satisfy an insatiable appetite to lead the city. 

“We have reached a stage where for them, its either a DA government or no government.”