ActionSA is pleased to inform residents that following the intervention by ActionSA and other parties, the Joburg Council has agreed to withdraw, from the Agenda of its 2nd Meeting held today, items on the establishment of its oversight committees.
Following ActionSA Caucus Leader, Cllr Herman Mashaba’s letter to the Speaker and press statement issued on Sunday, 28 November 2021, the Speaker of Council amended today’s agenda to include the confirmation and composition of the Section 79 Committees. While this was done to legitimatise the need for today’s Council sitting, it was short-sighted given that coalition negotiations are still underway.
The withdrawal of the item, owing to pressure from ActionSA and other parties, was a necessary but completely avoidable 180-degree turn that Council was forced to make.
It is common cause that the Mayoral Committee has not been announced due to the ongoing discussions to finalise coalition agreements in the Gauteng Metros. Trying to conclude the composition of these committees, prior to the completion of those negotiations, would have been an affront to the negotiations.
Whilst this is an important issue to be dealt with, as the Committees perform a crucial oversight function over the Executive, it is absurd that these committees be established before the establishment of the Mayoral Committee whom these committees are established to conduct oversight over.
Since the Mayor has not appointed a Mayoral Committee, the question becomes over whom would these Oversight Committees be exercising oversight, given that these committees must mirror the configuration of MMC portfolios to effectively conduct oversight.
The early days of any government are critical to establishing its tone and manner of adhering to key principles of exercising its authority. The effort to have the Council approve the composition of Section 79 Committees before coalitions are agreed or the Mayoral Committee is established, is not the most auspicious of beginnings.
