In what seems like a repeat of events, the Ekurhuleni Council Sitting has gone on for longer than needed. This is amid the rising issues within the Council over the Adjustment Budget and the motion of no-confidence that is expected to be tabled against the Speaker of Council, Raymond Dhlamini.

Today’s Council Sitting is the third of its kind this year alone, following the collapse of the two before it.

With many having hoped that the third time would be the charm, Council members are mandated with ensuring that calm is restored and avoiding the scenario where the municipality is put under administration.

However, the rejection of the Midterm Adjustment Budget of the DA and its coalition, by the ANC, EFF, and PA, could prove to be harmful to the Council, as this could indeed see the seizure of Council.

The DA in Gauteng has since issued a statement condemning the rejection, labeling it as the “sabotage of service delivery in the City of Ekurhuleni by the ANC-EFF-PA coalition of corruption”. 

According to the DA, the budget would have seen over R21 million made available for the maintenance and expansion of Ekurhuleni’s refuse collect truck fleet, almost, R37 million to deal with load shedding through agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), and over R19 million to deal with the filling and repairs of potholes and streetlights.

The party further expressed that the ANC-EFF-PA alliance alongside the other parties who voted against the Budget getting passed has “betrayed the residents of Ekurhuleni.”

With the motion of no-confidence as well as other matters yet to be discussed today, one will have to wait in anticipation of whether we will witness a repeat of events and see another Council sitting collapse.

This is a developing story. More updates to follow.