The City of Johannesburg is still without a mayor. The National Chairperson of Action SA, Michael Beaumont has expressed unhappiness over the adjournment of the City’s council which was supposed to elect a mayor on Tuesday.
The party claims that close to half a million rand has been wasted in a failed bid to elect a new mayor in the City of Johannesburg. The party has not explained how it arrived at the figure.
The Speaker of Council Coleen Makhubele postponed the voting to Friday after negotiations between parties delayed proceedings.
Last month, Al Jama-ah’s Thapelo Amad resigned from the position. Beaumont has confirmed that Action SA has been engaging the IFP, the FF Plus, the ACDP and the UIM.
Beaumont says the delay comes as no surprise.
“I think it was expected. We’ve seen this time and again when the ANC and the EFF’s house are in order. They are willing to adjourn the meeting and delay proceedings without regard that more than half a million rand was spent to convene 270 councillors for a meeting like this and without regard for the fact the City of JHB continues with very complex challenges without any political leadership. Right now, the officials of JHB are doing as they please and right now there’s no oversight of the leadership of the officials in the City that is desperate for service delivery and some certainty of leadership.”
According to Action SA, close to half a million rand has been wasted in a failed bid to elect a new mayor in the City of Johannesburg. The party has not explained how it arrived at the figure.
Last night, the Speaker of Council, Coleen Makhubele postponed the voting for a new mayor to Friday.
Councillors of different political parties asked for endless caucus breaks that lasted the whole day and prompted the postponement.
Action SA’s Lerato Ngobeni says, “May I remind this house speaker, that it cost the taxpayers in the city almost half a million rand to hold these council meetings. To that end speaker, we therefore request you to exercise your legislative and procreative powers to effectively preside over these council proceedings.”
Panel discussion | Political parties and other stakeholders unpack issues facing City of Johanneburg:
