The motion filed by the DA against Mlamleli is the second in a period of less than a year. According to the party’s Mokgadi Kganakga it is under Mlamleli’s tenure that the municipality regressed from bad to worse, resulting in the provincial government placing it under administration and being downgraded twice by Moody’s Credit Ratings. 

Speaking to the media ahead of the council sitting underway at the Bram Fischer Building, the DA reiterated its call for Mlamleli to vacate office, stating that the time has come for her to make space for administrators appointed to turn around the ship to achieve their objective.

The party’s Caucus Leader in the Metro, Hardie Viviers, said although there is a new administrative team appointed at the municipality after the metro was placed under administration, Mlamleli still plays a huge role politically and that her political decisions affect the administration and running of the municipality, hence there remains a high need for her to vacate office.

He said they are confident they will be able to oust Mlamleli should the Speaker of the Council, Mxolisi Siyonzana, allow for a secret ballot. Viviers said there are a number of ANC councillors who would also like to see Mlamleli out of the office for the benefit of residents but would not openly vote her out in fear of victimisation.

He told members of the media that previous attempts to oust her were not successful because the voting process was by a show of hands and in cases where there were secret ballots, ANC councillors were instructed to photograph their ballot papers to ensure that they do not vote with the opposition.

Viviers has meanwhile appealed to Siyonzana to make decisions that are in the interests of the public and not in efforts to protect the ANC.

OFM News