Tshwane mayor writes to council speaker to halt no-confidence motion in him

JOHANNESBURG - City of Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink has written to the council speaker in a bid to try and stop the motion of no confidence in him.

Brink is due to face a vote over his future on Friday, when the Tshwane council meets.

In court papers addressed to the speaker’s office, Brink’s lawyers say the mayor was not given sufficient time to consider the motion on him.

The speaker’s office has confirmed receiving the papers, saying they are getting the necessary attention. 

READ: Tshwane coalition says ActionSA mum on pulling out from the pact

The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Tshwane spokesperson, Kwena Moloto, said there is no urgency for the motion to be on Friday’s council agenda.

"A motion of no confidence shouldn’t be something that takes place for fun, a mayor should have an opportunity to respond to the allegations of political parties in council. Therefore, for a motion of no council to serve urgently denies an executive mayor to bring forth arguments to the concerns political parties may be raising," Moloto said.

ACTIONSA REVIEWS DA-LED COALITION GOVERNMENT IN TSHWANE

The multiparty coalition in Tshwane says it's uncertain how ActionSA will vote in the upcoming motion of no confidence against Brink. 

The African National Congress (ANC) says after Brink is removed, the deputy mayor should be the capital city’s acting mayor. 

The current deputy mayor is ActionSA councillor Nasiphi Moya. 
 
Recently, the ANC and ActionSA have struck up a relationship, working together in Johannesburg to replace the mayor and speaker with their respective councillors. 

Brink has pleaded with ActionSA to not destabilise the city by breaking up a coalition that has been working efficiently. 

"A month ago when the exact same motion of no confidence, which has been rinsed and repeated was served. The answer from ActionSA and the rest of the coalition was crystal clear. We're making progress and we have to defend that progress. In a month, nothing fundamentally has changed," said Brink.

Meanwhile, ActionSA has been coy about its allegiances and released a statement on Friday to say it is reviewing its participation in the DA-led coalition government in Tshwane.