Tshwane Political Turmoil: Council Meeting Collapse Amid Accusations and Motion of No Confidence

Tshwane’s political landscape is teetering on the edge of instability following a tumultuous council meeting that ended in chaos. Tensions reached a boiling point when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu made provocative statements, expressing a desire for violence against Afrikaners.

The meeting, which was supposed to address critical issues including the construction of the new Lusaka clinic in Mamelodi, the city's water and sanitation turnaround strategy, as well as plans to combat cable theft and enhance policing, ultimately collapsed. Mayor Cilliers Brink’s spokesperson Sipho Stuurman cited “the ANC’s unruly behaviour” as the cause, accusing them of preventing the Mayor from performing his duties and tabling essential reports.

The crux of the dispute appears to pivot on a recent contractual change imposed by the city regarding waste removal services. Newly introduced regulations require waste collection trucks to be younger than nine years, equipped with trackers, and deemed roadworthy — leading to the cancellation of contracts for about 60% of the previous service providers. Brink suggested that businesses with ties to the ANC were adversely impacted, insinuating that vested interests were behind the push to have him removed.

Brink had attempted to address the council but was blocked, according to allegations, by ANC members, adding to the growing discord. ANC Tshwane had previously announced their plans to file a motion of no confidence against the mayor, which they claimed was related to issues other than the waste collection contracts.

Jacqui Uys, chairperson of the Tshwane multiparty government, expressed a united front against the ANC’s motion, framing it as a matter of business interests rather than service delivery. Meanwhile, ANC caucus spokesperson Joel Masilela rebuffed allegations that the motion was driven by the waste removal contractor decision and demanded that Brink retract his statements against the ANC before any further council meetings could proceed.

Concerns have escalated following the collapse of the meeting, with the city's governance and service delivery hanging in the balance. The political infighting, accusations, and now canceled council meetings pose a significant risk not just to Tshwane’s political integrity but also to the effective governance that residents rely on.