The ANC has hit back at the DA over the stalemate in Oudtshoorn for the control of the municipality.
ANC chief whip in the provincial legislature, Pierre Uys said yesterday the DA was to blame for the events in town.
Contrary to what the DA has claimed to be the subversion of democracy on being prevented by the ANC to take over the municipality, its councillors were to blame for what happened in the council on Friday, Uys said.
“The DA again suffered by its own hands when it abandoned its motion of no confidence in the elected office-bearers of the council (the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker) and walked out without even voting on anything,” Uys said.
This was another failed attempt by the DA to take over control of the council, he said.
This project began on May 31 this year when the party tried to remove mayor Gordon April.
“Friday’s botched coup is another failed attempt as the DA lurches from crisis to chaos,” he said.
He dismissed charges laid by the DA against the ANC for refusing to cede power as frivolous and vexatious.
A special meeting had been called on Friday to pass a motion of no confidence in April and all parties showed up.
However, the DA decided to stage a walk-out even before voting began on the motion of no confidence in the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker, Uys said.
The DA torpedoed its own motion in the council by walking out of the meeting he said.
The ANC chief whip said it was not true that the DA had a majority in the council.
In fact, it was in partnership with Cope, which assisted it in increasing its seats.
Uys said the DA shot itself in the foot by staging a walkout.
“It is the DA that frustrates Oudtshoorn municipality– as is proven when it blocked the budget from being approved,” he said.
DA deputy provincial leader Theuns Botha accused the ANC of undermining democracy in the Oudtshoorn municipality by removing its two councillors before voting began on the motion of no confidence.
April had removed Pierre Nel and Ben van Wyk for what he called a fraudulent settlement with the council regarding the employment of a municipal manager.
The mayor also stripped the two councillors of their voting right.
The DA has 12 seats in the council while its coalition partner Cope has one seat.
On the other hand the ANC has 10 seats and its partners the National People’s Party and Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa each has one seat. Botha said he would go to court on the matter this week and also ask MEC for local government Anton Bredell to intervene.
Source: The New Age
