About 30 ANC councillors stormed out of a Buffalo City council meeting on Tuesday in a rumpus over the mayor’s official house, East London’s Daily Dispatch reported.
It said on Wednesday the walk-out reduced the council meeting to chaos and it had to be abandoned.
The ANC councillors who walked out were backing embattled mayor Sindisile Maclean.
The Dispatch said the issue had split the ANC in the council down the middle.
As a result, vital decisions on running the city, including the final approval for a R120-million mall development in Mdantsane, had been put on ice.
The walk-out followed a heated exchange between party members.
At the centre of the row is a city-owned home in Gonubie which has been refurbished at the taxpayer’s expense for use by the mayor — in apparent contravention of official rules.
A report written by investigators Denis Kirk and Steven Hodge and commissioned by the council’s speaker, Zukisa Faku-Hobana, found that the mayor had breached the code of conduct for councillors.
Tuesday’s showdown came shortly after 4pm when Faku-Hobana ruled out any discussion on the ratification of a decision to refurbish the Gonubie house for Maclean.
A motion for discussion was submitted by the mayor who was absent from the meeting but had tendered an apology.
Faku-Hobana said the discussion should be postponed because the matter was still under investigation.
But finance portfolio head John Badenhorst insisted it should be discussed, saying: ”I don’t think you have the power to withdraw it.”
”I rule you out of order,” Faku-Hobana retorted. ”We are not going to debate it.”
Badenhorst interjected, saying the investigation fell within administrative process.
”We are not going to discuss it,” repeated Faku-Hobana, ignoring Badenhorst as he raised issues of law.
Other ANC councillors, including Sindiswa Gomba, raised their hands, but Faku-Hobana would hear nothing about the mayoral house.
”I want it to be recorded — you are exceeding your authority,” said Badenhorst.
ANC councillor Vuyo Mosana also attempted to have the matter discussed. Gomba then asked that the ANC be allowed to caucus.
Faku-Hobana declined. It was her prerogative to do so, she insisted.
Badenhorst then stood up along with Gomba, Ntombentle Peter and Sonny du Plessis and walked out, others joining them on the way.
Du Plessis and Peter returned to canvass those who had remained behind. More ANC members left the chamber, leaving the council without a quorum. The meeting was adjourned.
ANC chief whip Zilindile Gijana said after the meeting his party would have to intervene.
”There is no other way,” he said. ”It is beyond our control. The party has to intervene because this thing will affect service delivery and affect the poorest of the poor.” – Sapa