#Joburg: EFF calls ANC man a criminal

Picture: Thabiso Thakali

Picture: Thabiso Thakali

Published Aug 22, 2016

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Johannesburg - The Johannesburg council sitting was disrupted on Monday after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) argued that an African National Congress (ANC) member who is a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and who is accused of bribery in exchange for votes was not eligible to be sworn in as councillor and should instead be arrested.

EFF councillors stood up as Judge President Dunstan Mlambo was swearing in ANC councillors. Two EFF councillors objected to the presence of the MMC and vowed to city manager Trevor Fowler that they would not allow the proceedings to continue unless the MMC was removed.

“I want to ask how this council feel right now going ahead in the presence of a criminal. Dan Bovu is facing criminal charges at Eldorado Park SAPS and Brixton. The police are here… this will not take more than five minutes. He is a criminal,” said an EFF councillor.

Fowler said the constitution allowed for "innocent until proven guilty" to apply to every citizen.

“Everyone has a right to have an opportunity of due processes. All councillors here have been confirmed by the IEC, and are ready to be sworn in. Appropriate steps will be taken at a later stage if your allegations are found to be true,” said Fowler.

The EFF on Sunday said it had opened a criminal case against an ANC MMC whom it accused of offering cash to opposition parties to ensure that the ANC retained the Johannesburg metro ahead of Monday’s first council sitting. The named councillor offered as much as R500 000 in exchange for a vote for the ANC, alleged the EFF.

The councillor has denied the allegations.

#Joburg EFF mood right now as we wait for voting to start @IOL pic.twitter.com/GnRSMAZA4U

— Thabiso Thakali (@Thabiso_TK) August 22, 2016

A second EFF councillor accused Fowler of “protecting corruption” by not acceding to the EFF’s demands.

“He must be handed over to the police… this is not a difficult task. If you are not sure of the procedure, the Judge President is here to clarify and assist… but since you would not play your part, we would like to make it clear that you are assisting in the protection of corruption,” said the second EFF councillor.

The ANC won 121 seats in Johannesburg against the DA’s 104. The EFF, dubbed “the kingmaker” in the country’s highly contested local polls, won 30 seats. The rest of the 270 council seats went to smaller parties.

Fowler was due to oversee proceedings up to the election of the speaker, after which he would hand over proceedings to the newly elected speaker.

African News Agency

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