Debate over secret ballot in Kaunda no-confidence motion
The eThekwini Council will decide whether or not to go ahead with a motion of no confidence against Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.
The IFP filed the motion in November, citing service delivery issues, damning findings by the auditor-general, among other reasons.
DA caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa says they want the vote motion to be by secret ballot.
"Looking at the importance of this motion and the hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses who are hopeful that today this Council will do the right thing and fire an incompetent mayor.
"We remain hopeful that you will appreciate that this must be done in a safe environment. We therefore implore you to do the right thing for the safety of our colleagues to have the courage to take this vote into a secret ballot."
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While the EFF is against a secret ballot vote, the party's Themba Mvubu says they want the motion to proceed despite its coalition with the ANC in eThekwini.
"The EFF will support the motion to remove councillor Mxolisi Kaunda. Before we get carried away on this one, we are dealing with this particular item as we do with all items. The item that we agree with and we vote together, and the item that we don't agree with, we don't vote together, and today is no different. The EFF only accounts for itself."
ANC's Councillor Zamani Khuzwayo is opposed to the motion being tabled.
"What is disturbing is that these councillors, when the council gets some achievements, they want to say it’s eThekwini. When we face a crisis, it has to be the mayor and the ANC.
"We had floods, and you didn't see them only when there were national ministers. They will be around because they want the camera, but the ANC was always on the ground working with the people."
