ANC seeks to oust DA in Tshwane by putting metro under administration

There are growing calls within the Gauteng Provincial Government to dislodge the Democratic Alliance (DA) from power in Tshwane by placing the metro under administration.

On Tuesday‚ the council meeting descended into chaos when the opposition African National Congress (ANC) questioned the appointments of the chief of staff‚ secretary of council and chair of chairs.

This led to the ANC’s leader in the council‚ Mapiti Matsena‚ clashing with DA councillors.

The MEC of cooperative governance and traditional leadership‚ Paul Mashatile‚ who is also the chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng‚ has sent a delegation of senior officials to meet with Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga on Wednesday.

Sources in the provincial government told TMG Digital that they are adamant that Tshwane council be placed under administration.

“The provincial government is building a case. The officials from the department which were sent to meet with mayor Msimanga are going to make a determination about the situation‚” said a source.

“But there is a strong view that the situation is worse‚ the council is in a state of paralysis and it will not assist the metro to deliver services to the people of Tshwane.”

Should Tshwane be placed under administration‚ an administrator would be appointed for three months before fresh council elections are held.

• Msimanga lays criminal charges against erstwhile senior ANC officialsTshwane mayor Solly Msimanga on Thursday laid criminal charges against three senior officials from the city’s previous ANC administration‚ as well as three municipal entities.

Mashatile‚ in a statement released earlier on Wednesday‚ said the “behaviour of councillors is both unacceptable and embarrassing”.

Premier David Makhura‚ who is the ANC’s deputy chairperson in the province‚ fired a warning shot recently when he told the legislature that his government was willing to intervene when there was a state of paralysis in councils.

“We will not hesitate to intervene‚ in accordance with the law‚ in the event of administrative paralysis that threatens the well-being of citizens‚” warned Makhura.

Msimanga’s spokesperson was not available to comment.

– TMG Digital