An ANC councillor in an Eastern Cape municipality faces suspension and ultimately expulsion after failing to attend 20 consecutive council and standing committee meetings.
Mhlontlo municipality councillor, Mkhuseli Mathe reportedly did not give reasons why he failed to attend meetings without permission from the council or the speaker. According to the Municipal Systems Act, a councillor who failed to attend three or more consecutive (council) meetings or committee meetings must be removed from office.
During a special council meeting earlier this month, a decision was taken to remove Mathe as the local municipality’s representative in the OR Tambo district municipality.
The Daily Dispatch has seen a letter written by acting municipal manager Luzuko Matiwane to OR Tambo informing the municipal manager Tshaka Hlazo that Mathe had been removed by council.
Mathe was given seven days to respond to a letter from council speaker Xolile Nkompela on why he should not be suspended.
He failed to meet the deadline and now the matter will be taken to council for a decision to remove him.
“You will remember that you have continuously, without courtesy to inform the relevant person, played truancy and abdicated your responsibility as … you are therefore to respond within seven days stating the reasons why the intention to suspend cannot be effected,” wrote Nkompela.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Nkompela said: “Once a councillor fails to attend three or more consecutive meetings without an apology that means the councillor has already dismissed himself.
“Between last year and now he has failed to attend 20 council meetings. It seems to be his routine because in the previous term he did the same thing.”
ANC regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the party supported the council’s decision.
“We received a report on the matter and we will do our own investigation.”
Mathe is not the first councillor to face removal from council due to non attendance of meetings.
Former KSD councillor Solomzi Peters was removed earlier this year for failing to attend more than 10 consecutive council meetings. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
ANC councillor may be axed for ‘no-show’
Mhlontlo municipality councillor, Mkhuseli Mathe reportedly did not give reasons why he failed to attend meetings without permission from the council or the speaker. According to the Municipal Systems Act, a councillor who failed to attend three or more consecutive (council) meetings or committee meetings must be removed from office.
During a special council meeting earlier this month, a decision was taken to remove Mathe as the local municipality’s representative in the OR Tambo district municipality.
The Daily Dispatch has seen a letter written by acting municipal manager Luzuko Matiwane to OR Tambo informing the municipal manager Tshaka Hlazo that Mathe had been removed by council.
Mathe was given seven days to respond to a letter from council speaker Xolile Nkompela on why he should not be suspended.
He failed to meet the deadline and now the matter will be taken to council for a decision to remove him.
“You will remember that you have continuously, without courtesy to inform the relevant person, played truancy and abdicated your responsibility as … you are therefore to respond within seven days stating the reasons why the intention to suspend cannot be effected,” wrote Nkompela.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Nkompela said: “Once a councillor fails to attend three or more consecutive meetings without an apology that means the councillor has already dismissed himself.
“Between last year and now he has failed to attend 20 council meetings. It seems to be his routine because in the previous term he did the same thing.”
ANC regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the party supported the council’s decision.
“We received a report on the matter and we will do our own investigation.”
Mathe is not the first councillor to face removal from council due to non attendance of meetings.
Former KSD councillor Solomzi Peters was removed earlier this year for failing to attend more than 10 consecutive council meetings. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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