The Nelson Mandela Bay Council today elected an interim speaker, passed the adjustments budget and noted the 2022/23 budget and IDP.
The DA welcomes this much needed progress following months of instability and thank all parties for cooperating in the interests of the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.
This comes following the DA’s ongoing engagements with opposition parties and the Mayor to ensure that we bring stability back to council.
It is however disgraceful that while the council made some progress today the ANC ultimately chose to collapse the council meeting to prevent council affirming the position of interim speaker, Cllr Khusta Jack, until such time as a permanent speaker can be elected.
The council elected Cllr Jack as interim speaker only for the day. The DA then proposed that the elected interim speaker, Cllr Khusta Jack, remain in his position until such time as the council can elect a permanent speaker. This would guarantee sustained stability while council addresses a range of issues raised by the courts.
The ANC did not support this proposal and instead collapsed the meeting leaving the council with no speaker, yet again.
This proves once more that while the majority of parties were able to put their differences aside in the interests of the metro, the ANC remains intent on sustained instability and chaos.
The DA will now write to COGTA MEC, Xolile Nqatha, to request that he once again seconds an official to the next council meeting scheduled for Thursday the 28th of April. At this meeting council can ensure the office of the speaker is stabilised by allowing Cllr Jack to remain in office until such time as a permanent speaker is elected.