The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Sol Plaatje Municipality will urgently petition for a virtual Council meeting to safeguard councillors and prevent further disruption of critical municipal business. This follows a deliberate and coordinated attempt to collapse today’s Council proceedings to block the overdue tabling of the outstanding municipal budget, force non-compliance, and trigger an emergency Section 139 intervention by the MEC for COGHSTA, Bentley Vass.
The DA, alongside opposition parties, petitioned for today’s Council meeting to address the overdue tabling of the adjustment budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in order to ensure compliance. Tabling of both documents has already surpassed the 31 March deadline.
Proceedings, however, were derailed from the outset by ANC objections, including an attempt to bar five suspended ANC ward councillors from attending Council, despite the fact that the IEC process has not been concluded and their positions have not been formally vacated.
Sustained shouting, physical altercations in the gallery, the use of defensive spray, and the throwing of eggs and other objects into the chamber marred the meeting. Several DA councillors and their property, including Councillor Elize Niemann and Councillor Peet Louw’s laptop, were hit by eggs hurled from the gallery. A gas canister was also deployed, preventing councillors from safely leaving the chamber. Councillors were forced to take cover in an increasingly volatile and unsafe environment, underscoring serious security risks.
The disruption was a deliberate attempt to have the meeting adjourned to push the municipality into administration. Mayor Martha Bartlett remained silent throughout, while Speaker Dipuo Peters and ANC Chief Whip Martin White failed to exercise control over councillors as disorder escalated.
Internal ANC disputes have once again taken precedence over the municipality’s legal and service delivery obligations towards residents.
Given concerns that ongoing internal ANC conflict may again threaten councillor safety and derail proceedings scheduled to resume on 27 April, the DA will insist that the next meeting be convened virtually.
The DA will also formally write to MEC Vass and the ANC Chief Whip, calling for order and accountability to be restored among ANC councillors.
Council cannot continue to be used as a battleground for internal party politics at the expense of residents, nor can governance be held hostage by orchestrated disruption.