Makana Municipality's Speaker, Rachel Madinda-Isaac, escaped the chop in Council on Wednesday 20 November when a motion of no confidence was counteracted by 18 ANC councillors – much to the dismay of the four DA councillors present.
Makana Municipality's Speaker, Rachel Madinda-Isaac, escaped the chop in Council on Wednesday 20 November when a motion of no confidence was counteracted by 18 ANC councillors – much to the dismay of the four DA councillors present.
The local DA tabled the motion of no confidence in Madinda-Isaac and proposed her removal from office in today's special council meeting in the Council Chambers.
This is the second motion of no confidence to be tabled in Council this year.
In tabling the motion, DA councillor Brian Jackson noted that "the Speaker did sign a settlement agreement with the Municipal Manager in respect of the previous legal court cases on behalf of Council and without authorisation or delegation of such power by the Council. The speaker did commit the municipality to financial liability without authorisation or delegation of authority to do so and in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act."
In a move that drew fresh protests about procedure, councillor Julia Wells raised a counter-motion.
Wells stated that the no-confidence motion was based only on rumours and that there was no supporting documentation. In addition, she said, some of the issues raised in the motion had been discussed in last Friday's special council meeting.
Wells's counter-motion was seconded by councillor Monwabisi Tame.
The DA's Brian Fargher raised a point of order, saying that in the standing rules of order there was no provision for a counter-motion. He said the original motion should be voted on and could not be countered.
The item about the motion was chaired by municipal manager Dr. Pravine Naidoo – Madinda-Isaac had recused herself from the chair for that part of the meeting.
Naidoo asked councillors to vote on Wells's counter-motion. Four councillors voted against it and 18 ANC councillors voted for the counter-motion. Cope councillor Nozipo Plaatjie abstained.
The council then discussed a confidential supplementary item (addition to the agenda), from which the media were excluded.
MM under fire: Read more in Friday's edition of Grocott's Mail.
