Durban – ActionSA is forging ahead with its plan to oust the ANC in KwaDukuza Municipality and has submitted a new motion of no confidence in the leadership.
The party wants the vote on the motion, likely to be held at the end of this month, to be done through a secret ballot. It warned that if the municipality did not grant this, it would go to court.
The party and a smaller group of coalition partners want the mayor, Lindile Nhaca, her deputy Thulani Ntuli and speaker Dolly Govender removed.
It had tabled a motion of no confidence that was scheduled to be discussed at a council meeting last week, but the motion was not discussed because a physical altercation broke out between councillors, which caused the meeting to collapse.
The party said it would resubmit its motion.
“Today (Tuesday) ActionSA will resubmit its motions of no confidence in the mayor, deputy mayor, speaker and chief whip of the KwaDukuza Municipality.”
It added that it would request a secret ballot.
“It is clear from the last meeting that an atmosphere of intimidation and violence exists in the council and is aggravated by allegations of bribery and party leaders instructing councillors to vote against the wishes of their communities,” the party said.
ActionSA said it believed that given the chance to exercise their conscience, councillors from the DA and ANC (who are under instruction to not support the motions) would support the removal of this failed government.
“This is especially true for councillors from the DA whose communities support the removal of the ANC and yet have been instructed to not support the motions,” it said.
The DA distanced itself from the motion after it accused ActionSA of unacceptable conduct.
ActionSA said that the speaker had been given until August 8 to confirm whether secret ballots will be accommodated.
“Should the speaker refuse to do so, ActionSA will proceed to the high court on an urgent basis to force the speaker to protect councillors from the environment of fear, intimidation and pressure brought to bear from their party bosses.
“ActionSA is convinced that this measure is the right step to make. It is essential to ensure councillors can represent their communities, while affording further time for the DA to return to the negotiating table.
“There will be no apology from ActionSA about our approach to these motions of no confidence. The residents of KwaDukuza have spoken and, in their majority, they have elected to remove the ANC.
“Any party that seeks to keep the ANC in power by their actions to defeat these motions or collapsing coalition talks, is a betrayal to the people of KwaDukuza.
“ActionSA will fight for these motions to be heard so that the people of KwaDukuza see the ANC removed from government at the end of August. We will continue to work with all parties to ensure that this takes place,” the party said.