City of Johannesburg speaker Vasco da Gama was removed through a motion of no confidence in the early hours of Thursday.
Despite the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is part of the majority coalition, Vasco da Gama was voted out after three attempts by the minority parties.
Da Gama was voted out in the early hours of Thursday morning during a sitting of the City of Johannesburg. The motion of no confidence was settled with 136 votes in support of his removal and 132 against it.
The motion for his removal was tabled by the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and was backed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The motion was tabled by PAC councillor Tebogo Nkonku who said: “1994 was supposed to bring us freedom and independence. 2021 brought us an arrogant Speaker, who does not recognise the people of Johannesburg. 2022 brought a city that steals from its residents. How long shall we tolerate Councillor Vasco da Gama,” Nkonku said.
The DA-led majority coalition has 140 seats in the Johannesburg council but only 132 councillors voted against the no confidence motion against Da Gama.
Mayor Mpho Phalatse lashed out at the metro’s coalition partners after the vote which removed Da Gama.
“We note with utter shame that certain members of the coalition elected to vote in favour of the motion. We are also aware that ahead of the motion there were allegations of bribery, which will be detailed in an affidavit,” she said.
“We are nonetheless confident that we will restore order. This is but a speed hump on a long road… We intend on completing this term of office.
“As the multiparty government, we will introspect on what needs to be done to regroup, as Joburg cannot afford to be handed back to a cabal who place self-interest ahead of the needs of the city’s 6 million residents.”
Source: The Citizen, Times Live, Business Day, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: Yfm