Former Johannesburg mayor, Dr Mpho Phalatse, says the large number of political parties comprising the government, led to fragmentation and instability in the council.
Phalatse said during the ANC’s tenure as the majority party, the city had stability; whether or not there was service delivery was a separate issue.
As a mayor she had found it a nightmare to work with so many parties as everyone was lobbying for better positions within the council.
Phalatse said the situation was worse now: “It looks like now we are moving to a third dispensation and that dispensation is a grand coalition.
“There is that notion that could bring a level of stability within the city, we have seen that at the National level and that brought us closer to being a possibility at a local level,” Phalatse said.
The former mayor said the best case scenario was where there was a party with a majority to bring stability to the municipality.
Her comments came amid uncertainty about Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda's future, as calls by civil society for him to step down grew.
Meanwhile, the Activists and Citizens Forum said the Gauteng Metro was infested with a culture of instituting frivolous votes of no confidence driven by “nothing but greed”.
Its spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, said these votes of no confidence had nothing to do with addressing the much needed services delivery in communities.
“Political parties do not hide their selfish agendas anymore. Since local government elections in 2021, vote of no confidence has been the order of the day in municipalities.
“It is shameful how the people of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni must struggle to get much needed services. Instead of addressing the water crisis, these greedy political parties are fighting over positions,” Bloem added.
He called on Gauteng residents to rise up against the growing culture, saying: “We want to condemn these ongoing senseless vote of no confidence. We are calling on residents of Gauteng to stand up and reject this disruptive culture.”
Bloem’s remarks came after the ANC in Tshwane announced that it would put forward a vote of no confidence against Mayor Cilliers Brink.
During a media briefing last Friday, ANC party regional secretary, George Matjila, said that there were examples in the past ,where councillors in the DA coalition had gone against the collective line.
ANC regional chairperson Eugene Modise, said: “The motion follows a deterioration of the state of governance, including financial management, and a litany of misrule and a staff component that is despondent. Since June 2023, we have witnessed the rapid deterioration of governance in political oversight, management, and the financial status of the city.”
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane Caucus Chair, Jacqui Uys, condemned the ANC’s move because, according to her, the municipality had made significant progress over the past year.
She said the City’s financial position had improved, and its audit outcomes had been recognised by ratings agencies and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
“The municipal council is actively fulfilling its duties, and the municipal public accounts committee is investigating the misspending of public money. Forensic reports, some dating back to 2014 (including the Tribe One music scam), are finally being addressed. The City has appointed a new top management team, fostering a new culture driven by service and performance.
Uys added that efforts were under way to ensure that supply chain processes were fair and offered value for money. Later this month, a new vending portal reducing human intervention would be launched.
“Last month the City cancelled a water tanker tender before award to prevent potential corruption. Public spaces like Menlyn Park are being cleaned up and secured in partnership with businesses and communities.
“The Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant is being upgraded, and in collaboration with the national government, a package plant project is under way to provide clean water to the people of Hammanskraal,” said Uys.
Saturday Star