A number of City of Johannesburg councillors have opted not to attend the last council sitting due to their exclusion from their party lists submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa. This decision comes as the city prepares for the November elections, which will establish a new council. The councillors' absence may impact the quorum, with 136 councillors required to be present out of a total of 270.
Council speaker Margaret Arnolds has decided to hold the last council sitting virtually, but the reason behind this decision remains unclear. On Monday, the city announced the meeting would be held virtually on Wednesday through its WhatsApp group. A senior council source revealed that some councillors feel their attendance would be merely ceremonial, as they will not feature in the new council.
The ANC regional secretary, Sasabona Manganye, expressed his views on the matter, stating that it was "moronic" and "selfish" for councillors not to attend the council sitting simply because they were not on the party list. He emphasized that councillors were elected for five years and should remain committed to the party that gave them the opportunity.
Manganye's sentiments were echoed in his criticism of councillors who choose to boycott the meeting, suggesting that they demonstrate a "wrong deployment" and prioritize their interests over the party's. He urged councillors to remain committed to the campaign and not throw "tantrums" due to not being reselected.
In contrast, Democratic Alliance Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku stated that she was not aware of the positions of other political parties but emphasized that their councillors would attend the meeting. She highlighted that there were matters that needed to be approved by council and expressed her uncertainty about why councillors would opt not to attend due to disgruntlement.
Kayser-Echeozonjoku also emphasized that DA councillors remain committed to serving the residents until their term officially ends on November 3rd at midnight. She stressed that councillors have an obligation to serve the residents, whether in council or in their communities, until the elections.
Despite the potential boycott, ANC councillors are expected to attend the sitting. The outcome of the meeting and its implications for the city remain to be seen, with the new council set to be established after the November elections.
Key points
- Some City of Johannesburg councillors may skip the last council sitting due to not being included on their party lists for the upcoming elections.
- The ANC regional secretary has criticized councillors who choose to boycott the meeting, calling it "moronic" and "selfish".
- The Democratic Alliance has stated that their councillors will attend the meeting and remain committed to serving the residents until their term ends.
