What happened?
The ANC and EFF said we were targeting the city manager. We said, here are the reasons in the report, they said it was sub judice .
In short, they blocked you?
They blocked us.
Didn't the ANC bring a motion in October to suspend him?
Yes, they did. But we couldn't deal with it then because the matters they were bringing were the same matters he was in court for. We said, let's deal with it this month. So they wanted to suspend him last month, they don't want to suspend him this month.
Why the flip-flop?
We suspect they're going to use this to bargain with the EFF when they bring a motion of no confidence against me in January. To say, we keep the city manager if you give us Solly Msimanga.
Was Mosola an EFF pick?
No, I wouldn't say he was. He applied and went through the processes. The EFF was part of the panel that appointed him.
How was he able to award such a flawed contract?
I can't go into the merits, it's in front of court.
Didn't your finance committee interrogate it?
The city manager did a presentation to the mayoral committee .
Didn't the auditor-general find that the award flouted supply chain management rules?
Yes.
Shouldn't you be held accountable for this?
No. Supply chain is the complete work of the city manager. I cannot get involved . If wrongdoing is found, I compile that in a report and take it to council. This is what we have done, which has led to the ANC and EFF using their majority to block us from suspending him.
Meanwhile service delivery has been paralysed?
Not completely, but it has been badly affected.
Couldn't you have found a solution if you had better deal-makings skills?
I am not going to compromise my party's, or my own, principles. If finding a solution means allowing some parties to do wrong so they can get to the next step, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to stop an investigation so that we can move on.
Is that what the EFF is demanding in return for a deal?
No, but when I started investigating, the motion of no confidence was coming. When we said we need to suspend, they kept pushing back. Why would you push back if what we intend doing is make sure the people of Tshwane get the best services? That brings into question a lot of things to say, what is really at play here?
What is at play?
Maybe they can answer that. But if we can only govern in a way that taints our administration then we're going to have a problem.
Will it hurt you next year?
This is why the party is having serious discussions about what is the endgame for us. It will make an announcement very soon.
Was your alliance with the EFF a mistake?
It was a learning curve...