Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink
By Thabo Mosia
Tshwane, South Africa — Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink is urgently seeking a postponement of the no-confidence vote against him, which is currently scheduled for this Friday. Mayor Brink’s legal team has submitted court papers to the Tshwane Speaker’s office, arguing that the motion of no confidence in him, brought forth by the African National Congress (ANC), lacks the procedural fairness necessary to move forward at this time.
The court documents reveal that Brink’s legal team contends that the mayor was not given adequate time to respond to the motion. “Our client has also not been given fair notice about the 27 August 2024 motion calling for his removal as the Executive Mayor, which would allow him to respond adequately to the allegations in the motion. Our client cannot do so within the two days between when you gave him the notice and the Council meeting,” the court papers state. The lawyers argue that this timeline does not allow the mayor sufficient opportunity to prepare his defence and gather the necessary evidence and submissions to contest the motion.
Tshwane Coalition in Turmoil
This latest move adds fuel to the already tense political situation in Tshwane, where the DA-led coalition government, of which Brink is the head, faces increasing instability. Tshwane’s coalition partners, including ActionSA, have been urged to clarify their intentions amid growing speculation that they may break away from the current government. The ANC’s motion of no confidence could potentially lead to a major political shift in the city.
In response to the growing tensions, Mayor Brink has called for calm and rational thinking. “Let’s think rationally before deciding to dismantle a stable and well-functioning government,” Brink urged in a statement directed at ActionSA, which has recently threatened to reconsider its position in the coalition. Brink’s concerns highlight the precarious balance of power in Tshwane, where the potential exit of a key coalition partner could tip the scales in favor of the opposition.
“What concerns us the most is, if ActionSA were to form a coalition with the ANC, they simply do not have enough votes to form a majority government. They will have to bring in the EFF, which then raises the spectre of the kind of chaos and mismanagement that we see in Johannesburg,” Brink stated in a recent interview with Newzroom Afrika. His comments reflect widespread fears that the political turmoil seen in Johannesburg, following the recent election of Dada Morero as mayor, could be replicated in Tshwane.
A Looming Political Shift?
The situation in Tshwane bears striking similarities to recent events in Johannesburg, where a coalition of the ANC, EFF, and other smaller parties led to the ousting of Kabelo Gwamanda and the subsequent election of Dada Morero as the new mayor. This shift has created a domino effect, with political analysts suggesting that Tshwane could soon see a similar coalition takeover.
Such a development could lead to significant changes in the governance of Tshwane, a city that has been under the control of a DA-led coalition for several years. The current situation in Tshwane could mirror the dynamics in Johannesburg, where the ANC and EFF joined forces with other smaller parties to unseat the previous administration.
Tshwane Coalition Partners Respond
In light of these developments, the multiparty coalition governing Tshwane has issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the city. The statement reads, “The City of Tshwane multiparty coalition remains fully committed to carrying on building a City that works for all its people. In the past 17 months, the City of Tshwane multiparty coalition has made significant progress in turning around the capital city.”
The statement goes on to highlight the achievements of the coalition, including the imposition of tough performance standards for service providers, the implementation of a credible plan to get clean water to the residents of Hammanskraal, and the completion of the Townlands Social Housing project, which has provided hundreds of households with new homes.
“The City cannot afford to experience the kind of chaos and instability that has characterized the City of Johannesburg. We, therefore, repeat our call for unity against the motion of no confidence which the ANC has filed against the Executive Mayor, Ald Cilliers Brink,” the coalition partners emphasized, echoing Brink’s concerns about the potential for political instability should the motion of no confidence succeed.
Social Media Reactions
The unfolding political drama in Tshwane has also sparked widespread reactions on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where political commentators, journalists, and ordinary citizens have weighed in on the situation. Some users have expressed support for Mayor Brink, arguing that the motion of no confidence is an attempt to destabilize a functioning administration. Others have voiced frustration with the current state of governance in Tshwane and expressed hope for new leadership.
One user posted, “The ANC’s motion of no confidence against Cilliers Brink is nothing but a power grab. Tshwane has made progress under his leadership, and this is just an attempt to reverse that.”
Another commented, “ActionSA should be careful about who they choose to align with. Forming a coalition with the ANC and EFF could be disastrous for Tshwane, as we’ve seen in Johannesburg.”
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