Chris Pappas sworn in at the Howick Magistrate’s Court. Photo: DA
First council meeting in uMngeni ends with a DA, EFF walkout [WATCH]
The uMngeni inauguration ended in a walkout after a suspended ANC Municipal Manager attempted to preside over proceedings. Councillors were later sworn in at the Howick Magistrate’s Court.
Chris Pappas sworn in at the Howick Magistrate’s Court. Photo: DA
The uMngeni Municipality inauguration was due to take place on Friday, 12 November. However, the first council sitting was disrupted when Thembeka Cibane – the suspended Municipal Manager – wanted to oversee proceedings.
UMNGENI NEW COUNCIL OFF TO SHAKY START
The DA and EFF staged a walkout after the acting municipal manager allegedly refused to ask Cibane to leave, according to SABC News.
Chris Pappas was set to be sworn in as mayor. The DA leads with the council with 13 seats, the ANC 10 and EFF two.
After the walkout, DA and EFF councillors were later sworn in by the Howick Magistrate’s Court.
Francois Rodgers, the party leader in KwaZulu-Natal, said the DA will attempt to reconvene the inauguration process later and confirmed that the councillors were sworn in.
“The meeting was an illegal process. We then staged a walkout. The EFF walked out with us and that collapsed quorum. The meeting was unable to proceed.
“Currently, our councillors are here at the Magistrate’s Court being sworn in. What we will now do, we will seek legal opinion on the suspended municipal manager. We will write to the MEC for CoGTA for a directive in this matter. We will reconvene the inauguration process,” said Rodgers
Chris Pappas told IOL that the DA holds a majority in the council and would demand that another council meeting be called within 72 hours to elect office-bearers.
