Middelburg – The ANC says it’s councillors in the Steve Tshwete municipality cannot be declared unruly until they have appeared before the rules and ethics committee.
This comes after the DA wrote to the committee asking it to investigate conduct of ANC councillors for disrupting a series of council proceedings.
Speaker Thato Mathunyane opened a case of assault and intimidation against 4 ANC councillors after a motion of no-confidence against mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela was prevented in May.
This was followed by another two meetings which proceedings did not see the light of the day due to what the DA referred to as unruly behaviour by the ANC councillors.
Speaking to Highveld Chronicle, DA caucas leader Morgan Bruiners said the ANC caucus has shown blatant disregard for the speaker. “The deliberation of council items is compromised. The municipality’s council chambers have turned into a chaotic and hostile environment,” he said.
“The DA will not sit back and watch this town descent into anarchy. Lawlessness and malicious conduct will not be tolerated in council.
We have written to the rules and ethics committee to lodge an investigation into the unruly conduct of ANC councillors.”
ANC secretary in Nkangala Sello Matshoga it’s too early for the DA to refer to its councillors as unruly. “They must wait yntil the rules and ethics committee have concluded its investigations and have delivered the outcome,” he said.
