eThekwini Municipality leadership change possible after chaos – DA

The Democratic Alliance remained steadfast in its commitment to see a change in the eThekwini Municipality following the collapsed inaugural chaotic council meeting on Monday, the party’s eThekwini caucus leader and mayoral candidate, Nicole Graham said.         

A council speaker and the executive committee was elected at the meeting on Monday before it ran into trouble when ANC supporters stormed the meeting and the electricity blacked out at the venue.

eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said that the inaugural meeting had ended prematurely following a power failure at the venue.

“While the teams were working on restoring power, the meeting was also disrupted by a group of individuals. The eThekwini Municipality is investigating how the security controls were breached,” Mayisela said.

He said the eThekwini Municipality meeting would convene “in due course”.

However, Graham alleged on Tuesday that the ANC had “clearly realised that ground had moved underneath their feet and were at pains to delay proceedings.”

“After a lengthy lunch break and a caucus, the ANC began raising numerous frivolous points of order. This included about the stability of the tent, the wind and Covid-19. It was clear they did not want the meeting to proceed and speaker Thabani Nyawose refused to draw a line in the sand,” Graham said.

“The electricity in the tent then went out under suspicious circumstances and a mob of ANC supporters stormed the meeting, pushing over tables and trying to intimidate councillors. There was ample police and security on site but no arrests were made,” she said.

eThekwini Municipality mayoral candidate to be nominated

“The meeting was eventually called off and will reconvene on Wednesday. The DA intends to nominate myself for mayor and will work with opposition parties for other positions,” Graham said.

She said the DA would stay the course and remained committed to electing an opposition government in the eThekwini Municipality as real change was possible and was on the table.

“The ANC are bound to spend the next day trying every possible avenue to win councillors over. Every trick in the book is about to be utilised in a desperate attempt to claw back support. We remain optimistic that a better future is possible and can start on Wednesday in eThekwini,” Graham said.