By Doreen Mokgolo
Chief Whip of Council in the City of Ekurhuleni Khetha Shandu and ward 25 councillor Pieter Jacobus have both resigned.
Service delivery has collapsed with refuse not being collected in months and metro coffers have run dry while councillors spend their time fighting for positions in council.
In his resignation letter, Khetha said he was resigning with immediate effect due to personal reasons.
Councillor Jacobus said in the last 12 months his health and family life have suffered tremendously due to the total lack of service delivery.
“The lack of support from all departments in the metro is making it difficult for me to fulfil my mandate as the councillor to the residents,” he said in a statement.
Two weeks ago, the “Super Seven” parties, which include the ACDP, African Independent Congress, PAC, Cope, UDM, ATM and Independent Citizens Movement, submitted a proposal to table a motion of no confidence against the speaker of council Raymond Dlamini and Shandu.
During an ordinary council meeting on Friday, Dlamini was physically forced out of council by EFF councillors for allegedly flaunting the rules of council and dictating the agenda. The meeting fell apart.
If the parties get their way and both Dlamini and Shandu are removed, this will lead to the suspension of the standing orders of the council and make way for the removal of Mayor Tania Campbell.
The mayor survived a motion of no-confidence in November.
On Wednesday, City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi wrote to Mayor Campbell citing her concerns about the impact the ongoing political instability in the city has on the administration of the metro.
Mashazi said the instability is impacting the administration’s ability to effectively deliver services and adhere to legislated compliance timelines.
“The adjustment budget was recommended to Council to assist the metro in dealing with urgent service delivery matters especially the Environmental and Waste Management Department,” she said.
“Failure by the council to approve the adjustment budget will continue to negatively affect the service delivery,” she added.
Pictured above: Former chief whip of council Khetha Shandu
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
