Let's put cap on motions of no confidence – Black Business Council

'It’s part of democracy but the challenge is instability with numerous changes'

Finance MMC Dada Morero at the swearing in of the new mayoral committee members on February 6 in Johannesburg. Mayor Thapelo Amad appointed 10 MMCs after former mayor Mpho Phalatse was ousted in a vote of no confidence last week.
Finance MMC Dada Morero at the swearing in of the new mayoral committee members on February 6 in Johannesburg. Mayor Thapelo Amad appointed 10 MMCs after former mayor Mpho Phalatse was ousted in a vote of no confidence last week. (Papi Morake)

As the new members of the City of Johannesburg mayoral committee were sworn in on Monday, the Black Business Council proposed a cap be placed on the number of motions of no confidence tabled annually.

Speaking to Sowetan about city government's ability to encourage investment saying business owners wanted consistency and stability.

On Monday, Joburg's 10 member mayoral committee made of five ANC MMCs, two from the EFF and Patriotic Alliance including one from ATM were sworn in the council chamber with speaker Colleen Makhubele presiding over the ceremony.

The swearing in ceremony comes two weeks after Mpho Phalatse was removed via a motion of no confidence and replaced by three seats party, Al-Jama-Ah's Thapelo Amad.

"Coalition governments pose a challenge. We know it’s part of democracy but the challenge is instability and changes that happen all the time. When you’re in business you meet this MMC in economic development then in two weeks there’s another MMC and you have to start from scratch.

"It’s also not settling for employees because the people who work there meant to address certain things relating to business- take their cue from political principals and it takes time to learn the style. These constant changes aren’t helpful and negatively affect business," Black Business Council CEO Kganki Matabane said.

Continuing, Matabane said legislation was needed in order to bring more stability to coalition run municipalities.

"We need to find legislation that limits the number of no confidence motions that can be tabled in under a year because now it seems like they’re having them every six to two months. One year must lapse before you do a motion of no confidence. Imagine if it happens at national level. The city is very important because that’s where you operate," Matabane said.

The new batch of MMCs consists of two who were sworn in as councillors on Friday, including the ANC's Dada Morero who briefly wore the mayoral chain for 25 days.

Other experienced MMCs returning are Loyiso Masuku, who previously served as MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services and Eunice Mgcina who was MMC of Health and Social Development under the ANC-led coalition.

ATM councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu previously served as chairperson of Section 79 committee on health and social development.

Following the removal of the DA-led multi-party coalition government in Johannesburg, more changes are on the cards in the other Gauteng metros.

While addressing the Free State EFF Plenum, EFF leader Julius Malema, who's party, got two MMC positions in Joburg, told delegates on Sunday that more positions were in the pipeline for the party.

"Comrades, we have two MMCs in Johannesburg. This week, if all goes well, we will have five MMCs in Ekurhuleni," he said.

This forms part of the trade off between the ANC and EFF in the province to co-govern in the municipalities and for neither of the two parties to retain the mayoral chain.

A mayor, as in Joburg, is expected to be elected from one of the minority parties.

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