Pretoria - Three ANC councillors are in hot water for their alleged unbecoming behaviour during the chaotic ordinary council sitting at the Sammy Marks chamber last week.
Lesego Makhubela, Joel Masilela and Jabu Ramushi face the possibility of being fined or suspended if found guilty by the rules and ethics committee. They are being investigated for continued and repeated misconduct, unbecoming language and disregard of the Speaker’s authority.
Council chief whip Christo van der Heever said the investigation was expected to take about four to six weeks. “At its conclusion, any ANC councillor found to have breached the rules faces a suspension for a period determined by the committee or a monetary fine. There may also be a formal warning...
“The most severe sanction that could be imposed by the committee is to request the MEC for local government to remove the councillor from office,” said Van der Heever.
Parallel criminal cases were opened at the Pretoria Central police station after two councillors were allegedly assaulted and property was damaged during the meeting.
Speaker Katlego Mathebe told the media on Monday that she made a statement to the police. In addition, she would hand over the video footage captured in the chamber, media photographs from the violent events and minutes of the council sitting.
“The SAPS has assigned a case number and an investigating officer,” she said. Mathebe said the violence experienced during the council meeting had necessitated action to restore order and uphold the rules.
Last week, mayor Solly Msimanga met ANC provincial leader Paul Mashatile, and both politicians acknowledged the conduct seen in council could not continue.
Mathebe said the behaviour of ANC councillors who disrupted the council constituted criminal conduct.
Councillors were expected to abide by the codes of conduct or face sanctions, she said.
“When those pieces of legislation were drafted, it was never anticipated that a councillor who took the oath of office would get involved in criminal activities within the chamber,” she said.
Mathebe defended a change of decision to oust ANC councillors after a protest from their leader Mapiti Matsena. She said she changed her mind because the executive mayor intervened.
“When the executive mayor intervened and asked that party leaders have a discussion, I respected that, although I shouldn’t have. But he is the executive mayor; he is number one.”
Mathebe said that as a Speaker, she had the power to remove councillors who were singing and banging on the tables. “However, when you are a leader you don’t have to be arrogant and disrespect intervention.”
She also defended the decision to call in the metro police, saying it was not illegal because there were threats in the chamber.
Pretoria News