The DA in Tshwane says the regional ANC’s threats to remove mayor Cilliers Brink through a motion of no confidence is motivated by business interest in the recently-awarded waste collection tenders.
Finance MMC Jacqui Uys, also DA caucus chairperson, made the claim during a media briefing at Tshwane House on Friday, implicating the regional ANC secretary, George Matjila, who allegedly called her to complain about tenders’ new rules.
She said Matjila was “upset after a new tender was awarded for waste collection in the City, introducing performance requirements for contractors”.
There have been disruptions and threats to municipal truck drivers at the landfills since the introduction of new contracts on July 15.
Uys said subcontractors, who have been accused of violence at landfills, were opposed to three new requirements for waste collection contracts.
In terms of the requirements, trucks must not be older than nine years, must be fitted with tracking devices and have valid e-Natis documents.
The new rules, Uys said, led to the replacement of 60% of previous waste removal contractors.
She said Matjila alleged that officials would benefit from the new contracts, but “could not provide proof and threatened a motion of no confidence in Mayor Brink on behalf of the ANC”.
She said subcontractors resisted new rules and made threats to contractor drivers at landfills, resulting in the deployment of a public order police unit to restore order.
“Matjila’s involvement in destabilising Tshwane in 2016, following the ANC’s nomination of Thoko Didiza, resulted in chaos and destruction. I reported Matjila’s recent call to the South African Police Service, highlighting improper attempts to manipulate tender processes and demonstrating the ANC’s motives in attacking Tshwane’s multi-party coalition,” Uys said.
The ANC, she said, lacked a legitimate case for a motion of no confidence in Brink.
In a separate media briefing yesterday, Matjila said his party was doing the groundwork in terms of mobilising parties in council to get rid of the incumbent mayor through a vote of motion of no confidence.
He said: “There were a number of doubting Thomases when we put up a motion and it was successful because we managed to put (the late) Dr Murunwa Makwarela as our executive mayor. Unfortunately, he had his own issues and that could not be sustained.
“We are hard at work, doing that particular task, that once we put up a motion, it succeeds. And we are able to install our mayor who will be able to help the people of Tshwane because it is not only about politics.”
He accused the DA administration of failing to spend its capital projects grants and rendering poor services to people.
He said that landfills had been closed and people could not participate in the local economy.
The move comes after Brink assumed office in March last year with the support of a multiparty coalition bloc, which includes ActionSA, DA, FF-Plus, IFP and ACDP.
He succeeded the late Cope councillor Makwarela, who quit on March 10 last year, after it was found that he faked an insolvency rehabilitation certificate after it surfaced that the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria had declared him insolvent in 2016.
Uys said the Brink administration would continue work to build a capital city that served all its residents.
“Any political party supporting this motion will aid the ANC in corruption and help undo the progress made in Tshwane,” she said.
The ANC motion of no confidence against Brink is expected to be tabled during an ordinary council meeting on July 25.
Pretoria News