The Economic Freedom Fighters forced the Speaker of Matatiele Local Municipality to adjourn the special virtual council meeting that was scheduled for the 26 of February. The EFF councillors accused the speakers of the council Nonzwakazi Ngwanya of deliberately holding a virtual meeting to discuss burning issues of the institution which they believe is unfair.
EFF councillor Siseko Sikhafungana alleged that the Speaker’s decision to choose virtual meetings, disadvantage most of the councillors due to the network problem as many live in villages with poor internet connectivity and now the is even a loadshedding that adds to their frustration . He further alleged that the speaker sometimes mutes or disconnect council members on purpose and this whole virtual thing takes their right as the voice of the voiceless. “We were supposed to debate on the tabling of the budget which is an important part of the council, then she decided that it must be a virtual one, this is the 4th virtual meeting since the last physical one on the 28 of October 2024,” said Sikhafungana.
However, the speaker of the council Nonzwakazi Ngwanya dismisses these allegations, stating that the link of the virtual meeting was sent prior the meeting to everyone and they were all connected but when the Mayor was speak someone decided to mute everyone which they found out late that the Mayor is speaking alone, so none of the above allegations are true. “The decision to postpone the meeting is simple based on the fact that when we tried to reconnect via a new link, it only included the managers not everyone hence, I said the next sitting will be on Friday in Matatiele Local Municipal council chambers,” said Ngwanya.
