Johannesburg - In a surprise move, the IFP has recalled one of its members in the Joburg Municipal Council after it was discovered that he had voted for the removal of the former speaker of council, Vasco da Gama.
This is not the first councillor to be dealt with by a party belonging to the ruling coalition in the City of Joburg.
ActionSA had also recalled and expelled a councillor who had failed to show up on the day that the legislature was deciding on the motion of no confidence against Da Gama.
IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said Sbusiso Phakathi had reneged from a party decision not to support the motion of no confidence against Da Gama.
Phakathi was brought in front of a disciplinary committee which found him guilty of brining the party into disrepute. It was not clear if Phakathi had been involved in allegations of bribery.
The Star understands that an IFP councillor had written an affidavit claiming that he had been offered R100 000 to vote for the removal of Da Gama from the legislature.
Hlengwa said having received a report from the IFP Caucus and the IFP Gauteng PEC, the said councillor was charged. His matter was heard - in his presence - in terms of Section 11.10 of the IFP constitution on Saturday, September 10.
“Mr Sbusiso Phakathi was found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and defying a Party mandate. He was thus recalled, with immediate effect, as a councillor in the City of Joburg and as a member of the IFP Gauteng PEC,” Hlengwa said.
The IFP reaffirmed that it was committed to the coalition in the city. The party had one seat under the Housing Department led by MMC Mlungisi Mabaso.
“The IFP is an active participant in the coalition government in the City of Joburg, and the Motion in question was not sanctioned by the IFP or the Coalition partners,” Hlengwa said.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the axe will drop on councillor Colleen Makhubele, who is the current Chair of Chairs.
Makhubele, a Cope member, openly voted for the departure of Da Gama despite Cope being a member of the multi-party coalition. The coalition had accused her of being captured by the opposition bloc. ActionSA said it would sponsor a motion of no confidence against her as the Chair of Chairs in the council.
The Star