Latest news with #Ndzwanana
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Mcedi Ndzwanana defends his position against DA's no confidence motion in Tshwane
Mcedi Ndzwanana, the speaker of Tshwane, defends himself against a no confidence motion from the DA, claiming the accusations are unfounded and asserting the city's progress. Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane's council Speaker, Mcedi Ndzwanana, has hit back at the DA's attempt to oust him through a motion of no confidence. The motion, set to be debated on June 26, accuses Ndzwanana of being delinquent in his duties and stifling debate in council. Ndzwanana on Thursday dismissed the DA's accusations as "baseless and without merit", saying he is guided by the rules, not emotions. His party, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), has also vowed to back him, threatening court action if they have to. "My rulings in all council sittings are not based on emotions, but are guided strictly by the Rules and Orders By-law," he said. The DA's caucus whip, Ofentse Madzebatela, alleged that Ndzwanana makes his rulings based on emotion, rather than logic or the rules of council. "Due to this attitude, councillors cannot participate in meetings as equal peers," Madzebatela said. "His discriminatory behaviour has reached a point where parties outside the governing coalition do not have a fair say or hearing in council meetings.' Ndzwanana denied claims that opposition parties were being silenced at council meetings. "It's the duty of the speaker of the council to be fair and impartial when managing debates," he said. "It is wholly incorrect to assert that opposition parties are being silenced in council meetings,' he added. Ndzwanana pointed out that all council meetings are live-streamed on social media, and that all members have the freedom to debate. "The speaker has always and continues to conduct and uphold fairness and impartiality in managing debates and motions," he said. ActionSA, a coalition partner in the City of Tshwane, has slammed the DA's motion as a "desperate bid to destabilise" the city. Michael Beaumont, ActionSA's national chairperson, said the DA's motion is motivated by self-interest and a desire to undermine the city's progress. "The DA's tabling of this motion of no confidence is an act of desperation designed to destabilise a government that is showing clear signs of a turnaround after years of failed government," Beaumont said. "It should be rejected by residents of Tshwane, and Gauteng more broadly, as an act of insecurity by a party that has no answers to the service delivery needs of the residents of this province." However, Ndzwanana's future as speaker is uncertain after other coalition partners, ANC and the EFF, met in private this week to discuss whether to support the DA or Ndzwanana Although it was not clear at this stage what that meeting decided, according to senior members of the two parties, the ANC was backing Ndzwanana while the EFF wanted the ANC to support them so that they could have their member as a speaker. Ndzwanana was deployed by the ATM in its minority through a power sharing deal with the ANC and the EFF, thrusting the DA in the cold after they ousted former mayor Cilliers Brink. Despite the uncertainty, Ndzwanana remains confident in his position. "I do not need to mount a defence against the motion," he said. "The truth will prevail, and the council meeting will proceed in line with the rules on June 26."
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tshwane speaker faces motion of no confidence
Discontent brews as Speaker Ndzwanana is accused of emotional rulings and bias against parties outside the governing coalition. The speaker of Tshwane Mncedi Ndzwanana during the Tshwane Council Meeting on July 25, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier The City of Tshwane speaker is denying the opposition's accusations that he protects the mayor and ignores the representatives elected by residents to serve the city. DA Tshwane caucus chief whip Ofentse Madzebatela has announced the DA in Tshwane will bring a motion of no confidence against speaker of council Mncedi Ndzwanana on 26 June. 'Since 2023, Tshwane's council chamber, which is meant to serve as a beacon of democracy, has been subjected to the tyranny of a speaker of council who runs it like a dictator, who views councillors as his subjects. Motion of no confidence against speaker Ndzwanana 'He makes his rulings based on emotion, not logic, nor the rules of council. 'Due to this attitude, councillors cannot participate in meetings as equal peers,' he said. Madzebatela said the speaker's discriminatory behaviour has reached the point where parties outside the governing coalition do not have a fair say or hearing in council meetings. ALSO READ: 'Sad situation': Eskom warns growing municipal debt seriously risks its sustainability 'The speaker has developed a disposition to dismiss all propositions of the DA caucus, as legally and rationally sound as they may be. 'These include points of order; requests for deliberation on reports and amendments to reports; recommendations and motions brought before council especially when they do not favour his coalition partners,' he said. Madzebatela said the speaker has been at the helm of a new administration that brought oversight to a halt towards the end of 2024. Oversight to halt at end of 2024 'At the council meeting of 29 May, the DA caucus expressed its dissent with a report tabled on the establishment of the economic growth advisory committee, which it argued, was replicating the work of many other committees already in existence. 'We requested a vote on the report, in terms of Section 39 of the Rules and Orders By-Laws (2012). 'The speaker denied the DA caucus the opportunity to exercise its right to vote. ALSO READ: Tshwane cleansing levy 'unfair double tax on residents', AfriForum says 'Endorsing this report was not only unethical but an additional cost burden for the city,' he added. Opposition leader Cilliers Brink said an efficient council makes decisions that serve residents efficiently. 'We need motions brought to council to be heard and a compliant presiding officer as a speaker to oversee the administration of council and appointment of committees,' he added. Accused of protecting mayor Brink said the opposite was happening and described Ndzwanana as a partisan speaker from the ANC who was protecting the mayor from scrutiny and hindering the elected representatives of the residents. Speaker Ndzwanana said his rulings were not based on emotions. Ndzwanana denied opposition parties were being silenced in council meetings. ALSO READ: Planned water shutdown to hit parts of Hammanskraal on Monday He also denied that his office was denying committee members and councillors the opportunity to hold the executive accountable and called the allegations 'shallow'. 'Furthermore, it should also be noted that the council was on recess for the festive holidays, with service delivery continuing. 'The allegations that the new administration is evading accountability and disregarding legislative processes are misleading and untrue,' he said. Speaker denies allegations Ndzwanana said he has read the recorded reasons for the motion and the reasons for it are without merit. 'A defence against the motion does not have to be mounted. 'The truth will prevail,' he said.
