Africa-Press – South-Africa. The DA in Tshwane has been dealt a political blow after the resignation of a DA councillor was declared final by city manager Johann Mettler.
Mettler declared a vacancy for Ward 83 in Tshwane, which DA member Francois Bekker held.
Bekker resigned on Tuesday and the DA attempted to have this resignation rescinded, but this last-minute move failed.
Mettler decided to ignore a letter the DA wrote, which alerted him to Bekker still serving as a councillor.
This letter penned by DA Tshwane chief whip Christo van den Heever came hours after Bekker served his resignation letter directly to Mettler.
On Thursday, the city manager wrote to the Gauteng Electoral Commission of South Africa notifying it of the vacancy, the City’s head of communications, Selby Bokaba, said.
The position held by Bekker was a ward position, meaning a by-election will have to be held in 90 days to replace him.
Mettler’s decision has legal precedence.
Former Tshwane mayor Randall Williams had submitted two resignation letters, with conflicting dates.
Legal advice to the City resolved that Williams’ first resignation letter should be considered, not the second.
The latest decision means the DA and its coalition partners – ActionSA, the ACDP, FF Plus and IFP – have one less seat in the Tshwane council.
The group had used its 108-council majority to petition for a motion of no confidence in council speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana.
Without the majority, the petition may become moot.
The ANC, EFF, and a group of smaller political parties supported Ndzwanana’s position as a speaker.
This coalition bloc now has 106 seats in the council.
The decrease in the council majority for the DA will make it harder for the coalition bloc to remove Ndzwanana and the passing of the budget.
Two council meetings were expected to take place on 12 and 13 April to hear the motion of no confidence in Ndzwanana and to pass the adjustment budget due days after.
If the City does not pass the budget after two extended deadlines, the metro may be placed under administration by the provincial government.
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