Johannesburg - The ANC Ekurhuleni caucus said it will await guidance from the mother body on the next step to take following an incident where its leader former executive mayor Mzandile Masina and ANC councillors were allegedly assaulted.
Masina and other members were seen dragged out by members of Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) last Thursday.
“The ANC caucus will await the guidance of the ANC mother body on the next steps to be taken. The Speaker of council in collaboration with the MMC of Community Safety instructed EMPD to remove party councillors,” said Jongizizwe Dlabathi, whip of ANC Ekurhuleni caucus..
The incident occurred during the municipality's debate on the State of the City Address.
On Monday (today) the Gauteng MK Veterans expressed outrage over the removal and alleged assault of Masina and other ANC councillors. The veterans called for an inquiry and legal action. .
“We agree with the sentiments expressed by MKMVA,” Dlabathi said..
Sources who are councillors told Independent Media that the ANC caucus had allegedly attempted to delay proceedings deliberately.
The Gauteng MK veterans who were gathered at a Policy Meeting on Saturday, in preparation for the all inclusive MK Unity Conference among other issues that were discussed and took note of the incident ANC caucus members received.
“The coalition led by Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell who is a DA councillor, again displayed the same intolerant conduct and tendency to repress and muzzle democratic engagement and debate.
“The ANC councillors, as the official opposition, in the council were executing their democratic right and duty of oversight by raising points of order, specifically with regards to the unacceptable situation where they were denied documentation that they needed in order to assess the performance of the mayor, her executive, and overall coalition team,” said MK veterans spokesperson Carl Niehaus.
He further said “It transpired that questions from ANC councillors, for written reply, had not even reached Speaker Raymond Dhlamini, and that this unacceptable situation made proper council engagement impossible. When such gross procedural incompetence was questioned by Masina, as the caucus leader, instead of adhearing to his perfectly rational and proper requests, the speaker abused the Council Standing Orders and ordered members of the EMPD to remove them from the council chambers. In the process of carrying out this illegal, undemocratic, repressive, and undemocratic order, EMPD members assaulted Masina and other councillors.” Niehaus said this was unacceptable.
“This is unacceptable, the MK veterans of Gauteng support Masina in his decision to lay charges of assault. We are furthermore shocked that EMPD members most of whom were
employed during Masina’s term as Executive Mayor, could conduct themselves in such a despicable fashion. They should be ashamed of themselves,” said Niehaus.
“We call for a full official enquiry into the conduct of the EMPD officers who carried out the illegal order to remove the councillors.Those responsible should, in addition to the charges of assault that are being instituted by Masina, be arraigned and must face disciplinary procedures for their un-procedural conduct within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Command. As concerned MK veterans we will monitor how this situation unfolds,” he said.
A source made allegations that speaker Dhlamini is not a Bona Fide Citizen. He also shared documents with Independent Media making allegations that Dhlamini allegedly faces two cases of assault and robbery.
“He was naturalised and his naturalisation process must be looked at,” said the source.
Ekurhuleni mayor spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe said the Multi-Party Coalition government is not aware of the consideration of opening a case allegedly by Masina and other councillors.
“In accordance with the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995, a person in possession of permanent residence who has ordinarily resided in South Africa for at least 5 years after acquiring permanent residence status and who has not been absent from South Africa in any one of the past five years from the date of submitting his or her application for citizenship is eligible for South African citizenship by naturalisation.
The Speaker is a South African citizen of the Republic of South Africa by naturalisation. The Speaker has no criminal convictions and as such stands fit to hold his office, as prescribed in the Municipal Electoral Act,” said Mbengashe.
He said Masina was ejected from the Council Chambers in line with the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Standing Orders By-Laws, in particular Section 69 and 70
“The councillor was in contravention of both Section 69 and 70. As such the Speaker called on the EMPD to assist in having the councillor removed from the meeting. For the record, the EMPD officers who entered the Council Chambers were not armed or carrying any weapons,” Mbangashe said..