The ANC in Steve Tshwete has vowed to prevent Thato Mathunyane from continuing as speaker until he withdraws criminal charges against four of its councillors for alleged assault during a special sitting to remove Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela in May 2024.
Mathunyane opened a case alleging he was threatened and manhandled by the councillors. However, on Tuesday, June 24, a special sitting was disrupted and eventually collapsed due to ANC councillors’ actions.
“You can’t chair this meeting until you withdraw the cases against us,” one councillor shouted.
Sello Matshoga, ANC regional secretary, expressed concerns about Mathunyane involving the police in council matters. “Once the speaker goes out and open a case with the police, on something which was supposed to be resolved internally, it means he does not have trust in his own council. Hence the disruptions on Tuesday sitting ” Matshoga said.
“Council is protected by law. Any councillor who misbehaves or does something that contradicts the policy of the municipality, that person must be brought to book. There is an ad-hoc committee making assessment to councillors, and any councillor who transgresses must appear before that committee,” Matshoga further said.
Matshoga also denied Mathunyane’s claims of assault, stating that disruptions don’t constitute assault.
Mathunyane, representing the Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front, maintains that he has the legal right to chair meetings. “I ruled that the speaker shall preside over all council meetings, but it was chaotic, and I adjourned the meeting,” he said.
