Durban - There were echoes of the Parliament “signal jamming” saga in the Durban City Hall on Wednesday, when the public was temporarily barred from a council meeting.
This was after a “security assessment” by council speaker Logie Naidoo and police intelligence, Naidoo explained to upset opposition party councillors.
The city's full council meeting threatened to descend into chaos from the outset on Wednesday after the DA caucus asked Naidoo why the public had been locked out of the sitting.
The City Hall precinct was completely closed to the public. DA caucus leader Zwakele Mncwango, highlighted that in terms of the rules of order by-law under section 7(2), the public may not be excluded for any reason from meetings in which budgets and by-laws are tabled.
The party’s Nicole Graham objected, citing a stormwater management by-law on the agenda, as a reason for the public to be part of proceedings. Mncwango cited the tabled 2014/15 adjustment budget.
Naidoo insisted that his interpretation of the rule was correct, saying it was in the interests of the council. However, sticking to their guns, the DA objected and asked for a five-minute caucus.
“I authorised that this meeting exclude the public. I did that in consultation with members of city hall security and crime intelligence,” a resolute Naidoo said.
DA councillor Heinz de Boer sought clarity on the “threat”, saying “this is a very serious matter”.
He said: “Firstly, I would need clarity on what was the information presented to yourself – was it a security threat to this chamber or is it associated with the leadership race that took place within the ANC?”
De Boer was then heckled by the ANC caucus.
ACDP councillor Wayne Thring requested further “clarity” on the rules, saying the incident was “one of the very few” in his 14 years as a councillor.
When the meeting resumed again, Naidoo said he had, after consulting with party chief whips, decided to open the city hall doors to the public.
The announcement was met with applause from opposition party members.
Seemingly unsatisfied with the ruling, the National Freedom Party’s Thabani Mthethwa said: “We appreciate the decision… It is relevant to all the legislation but …against the explanation you gave us earlier against the decision now; are we sure that we are safe?”
The query was met with laughter and bewilderment from the ANC caucus and subsequently snubbed by Naidoo.
Later, in a media statement, Mncwango said the initial decision was made, “to protect ANC leaders from an embarrassing protest by their own members, and completely disregarded the Rules of Order of Council and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”
Mncwango was referring to protests relating to a recent ANC eThekwini region elective conference that had divided the party.
Mayor James Nxumalo pipped executive committee member and former ANC treasurer Zandile Gumede to the post.
The results have sparked a fall-out with Gumede supporters crying foul and objecting to the results.
Hundreds of her supporters marched to the party’s provincial office on Monday to voice their concern. Gumede has not set foot in a single council meeting since losing the battle.
The Mercury