The FF Plus has cautioned the Ekurhuleni Metro Council to adhere to the Disaster Management Act and not to transfer all the executive powers to the city manager and mayor for the duration of the lockdown.
On the instruction of the Speaker of Ekurhuleni, Patricia Kumalo, Councillors were informed that all council decisions will be made by the city manager, in consultation and agreement with the mayor, for the duration of the period of lockdown.
This is a blatant example of overstepping their powers and it will not be tolerated.
In an official letter addressed to Kumalo, the mayor, Mzwandile Masina, and the municipal city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, the party warned that this decision is in contravention of the Disaster Management Act as well as the published directives for municipal management as issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The FF Plus requested the mayor to study the amended directives that Minister Dlamini-Zuma issued and to act accordingly.
The amendment clearly states that council matters must be referred to the council for discussion. The Municipality must make provision for council meetings to take place via virtual platforms.
Matters relating to Covid-19 can be addressed by the city manager, mayor and speaker without the inputs of the city council.
The FF Plus will not allow one-sided decisions to be made during the period of lockdown and if the party’s demand is not met, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and Minister Dlamini-Zuma will be duly informed.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Jennifer Glover on FF Plus
South Africa Today – South Africa News
