The special council sitting, scheduled for Wednesday (15/7), failed to proceed because it did not reach the required quorum. Speaker Lawrence Mathae announced most ANC councillors had submitted apologies, including medical certificates, forcing the meeting to be abandoned.

The sitting was expected to consider matters arising from the Auditor-General’s latest report, which exposed systemic governance and financial failures under the city manager’s administration. 

The report highlighted wasteful expenditure, weak internal controls, and other deficiencies in the municipality’s financial management.

Mangaung Metro Speaker Lawrence Mathae informing opposition parties of the postponement of the council meeting. Photo: Screenshot 

Opposition parties, including the DA, FF Plus, and Alliance of Social Democrats, expressed outrage over the absence of ANC councillors and the city manager.

She had never experienced such disrespect in her 20 years as a councillor, said Elizabeth Snyman van Deventer from the FF Plus. She had taken leave from work to attend the special sitting, only to discover that it would not proceed. 

The ANC and its coalition partners had intentionally frustrated the council sitting to protect the city manager from disciplinary action, AASD Cllr Lucky Mongale alleged.

Absent

Opposition parties had previously been accused of obstructing the council’s progress and refusing to promote unity, said Mongale. The events on Wednesday showed those who had made the accusations were themselves absent.

“Today, the emperor is naked. The people who have been accusing us are the ones who are not here,” said Mongale. “The ANC and its coalition partners are hell-bent on saving an individual called the city manager from being disciplined. They are now collapsing the council for that purpose.”

Mathae rejected suggestions the ANC alone was responsible for the failed sitting. He had received leave applications from councillors representing several political parties and was obliged to consider them.

Councillors had previously submitted apologies when required to attend political party activities, including corporate apologies conveyed by party whips, said Mathae. He had no grounds to reject valid leave applications merely because councillors were attending party-related matters.

Mathae had hoped the meeting would proceed so councillors could consider appointing a Municipal Public Accounts Committee chairperson and deliberate on the Auditor-General’s findings involving the city manager.

The matters are now expected to be considered at the next council meeting, scheduled for Monday (20/7).

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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