WATCH: SA's oldest councillor, 90, forced out of council for wearing EFF overalls

31 August 2016 - 15:05 By Asanda Nini
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The country’s oldest councillor, 90-year old Mthuthuzeli Spelman – and three fellow EFF councillors – were forcibly removed from a council meeting in the Eastern Cape for allegedly flouting the dress code.

The Daily Dispatch reported that the councillors were ejected by security personnel on Monday after they were deemed to have been dressed inappropriately for the Mbizana meeting as they were wearing the Economic Freedom Fighter's (EFF) trademark red overalls and gumboots.

A video captured the moment Spelman and a fellow EFF member were ejected by security personnel:

Spelman said that just before the meeting began “one of several ANC councillors” mocked Spelman, Nwabisa Langasiki, Penelope Sobhoyi and Lungiswa Nqodi about their gumboots, allegedly saying they were smelly.

“When we raised a complaint with council speaker (Simphiwe Magini), he did not allow us to speak, but instead ordered that we be removed as we were allegedly dressed inappropriately,” he said.

The speaker allegedly told the four that they were flouting the council's dress code but Spelman argued that there was no such rule in the council policies “as it is only jeans, shorts, T-shirts and sneakers that are listed as prohibited clothing in our council, nothing about overalls and gumboots”.

Spelman‚ born in 1926 and the father of 10‚ grandfather of 15 and great grandfather of four‚ is a well-known community leader in the area who took part in the Ngquza Hill revolt of 1960.

Magini had not responded to the Dispatch's requests for comment at time of publishing.

Langasiki said they felt “so undermined and humiliated” by the action they had reported the matter to their party leadership.

“We are going to challenge this unconstitutional action‚ even if it means taking the matter to court.

“We just cannot let this slip away‚ because if we do‚ they will continue to mistreat us as we are minority in council‚” Langasiki said.

Langasiki‚ together with two other EFF councillors‚ were on Wednesday also sworn-in at Alfred Nzo district municipality council‚ where they were once again shown the door.

Moments after their swearing-in at Alfred Nzo‚ the trio were ordered to leave council chambers due to their “unacceptable” dress code. This is not the first time EFF councillors have been removed from Eastern Cape municipalities’ chambers since the local government elections.

Similar action has been taken in Ngcobo‚ King Sabatha Dalindyebo‚ Ngquza Hill municipalities and at recent OR Tambo District Municipal council meetings.

Read the full story on DispatchLIVE

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