Times Of Swaziland: ‘I’M STILL MAYOR’

‘I’M STILL MAYOR’
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 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 11/01/2019 01:01:00


MATSAPHA – “You see, I am still the mayor.” These are the direct words of
ousted Matsapha Mayor Sandlane Zwane as he occupied the seat reserved for the
mayor during yesterday’s meeting.
Zwane further chaired the meeting, which was where a motion to suspend
Councillors Mfanufikile Dlamini and Bongani Mamba was supposed to be moved by
Councillor Bongani Mkhatshwa.
However, the motion was not moved as the councillors did not form a quorum. In
fact, there were only three councillors in the chambers; Zwane together with
Councillors Bongani Mkhatshwa and Mavela Shongwe.
The rest of the council members; Councillors Bongani Mamba, Mfanufikile Dlamini,
Musa Ndzimandze and Deputy Mayor Siphesihle Sibandze, together with the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Lucky Sukati, did not show up for the meeting.
It is worth noting that the members of council who were conspicuous by their
absence were those who were part of the meeting which was held at Matsapha
Police Station at around midnight on Tuesday and passed a vote of no confidence
against Zwane.
The meeting was scheduled for 2:30pm yesterday but upon seeing that they were
not forming a quorum, the mayor and the two councillors waited for 30 minutes as
per the Standing Orders.
At 3pm, they called upon the council’s Corporate Services Manager, Princess
Kholwaphi, to stand in for the CEO so that the meeting could be official.
The corporate services manager was also asked to assist in taking minutes of the
meeting.
indisposed
According to the mayor, it was only the CEO who called his secretary to inform
the meeting that he was indisposed.
“Otherwise, the rest did not make apologies, as according to the Council
Standing Orders, a councillor should make an apology at least 24 hours before
the meeting,” the mayor said.
Furthermore, the chairman said they were expecting the CEO to be available as
councillors because they wanted him to furnish them with the minutes of the
meeting which took place on Tuesday afternoon in the council chambers.
“I cannot talk about the meeting which took place outside the chambers later
on the day because I do not have control over it,” Zwane said.
The mayor asked to adjourn the meeting, but Councillor Mkhatshwa asked to be
given a chance to voice a concern.
disappointed
The councillor said he was disappointed with the CEO and the other
councillors’ conduct and argued that when they came to meetings, they spent
money.
On the other hand, Councillor Shongwe wondered why the CEO failed to tell his
secretary to give them the minutes when he reported about his absence.
On that note, the chairman added that the town clerk should have also delegated
someone to act in his position for the sake of progress.
According to the chairman’s analysis, the absent members of council were
showing no respect for ratepayers who elected them to represent their interests.
He said this was because the ratepayers, including the Chairman of their
association, Steven Motsa, were in the chambers but the councillors were not
there.