MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The African National Congress (ANC) is disgusted by the decision of the Council Speaker, Alderman Kallie Smith for issuing an order for the removal of Councillor Skombingo from the Council chambers at the recent sitting of Council.
This, we view as no-thing else but a lack of tolerance and indicates the bias of a Speaker who is supposed to be chairing the meetings of Council without any bias or favouritism.
The Speaker failed to display impartiality as required of him in the exercise of his office duties, instead he opted to protect the Mayor, who lambasted the ANC in her communications to Council. This intolerance cannot be divorced from the Democratic Alliance, as the use of force is inherent in their policies.
It is the nature of the Speaker of Mossel Bay Council to stifle debate and disallow questions. It is in this same council meeting that the Chief Whip of the ANC, Councillor Mbandezi, questioned the Speaker for not including the ANC questions to Council as part of the council agenda. The simple conclusion that one can make out of this particular action is that the Speaker does not want visibility of the ANC logo in the council agenda that he is responsible for and, in my view this is nothing but the manipulation of council agenda.
The Speaker of Council, as a chairperson of an effective meeting, should create a warm atmosphere, respond positively to debate, encourage a diversity of opinion, provide an opportunity for all members to contribute and view conflict in a positive light by managing it effectively.
The latter surely means that these are inherent skills required to be an effective chairperson, these are unfortunately lacking the DA elected Speaker.
Issued by Councillor Sebenzile Stanford Mbandezi, ANC Chief Whip.
Speaker lewer repliek
In repliek op die ANC se persvrystelling oor gebeure tydens die afgelope raadsvergadering, het die Spea-ker, Raadsheer Kallie Smit, gesê: "Hierdie is 'n aanval op die bestaan van die Reëls van Orde wat geld vir alle Raadslede.
Dis die Speaker se taak om die reëls toe te pas en toe te sien dat dit gerespekteer word. "Hierdie raadslid pro-
beer nou skuil agter 'n aanval op die Speaker.
Hy word aangemoedig om die reëls te probeer verstaan, en so ook dat 'n Raadsagenda volgens voorskrif saamge-stel word. Mense wat nie wil leer dat 'n kersvlam hul vingers kan brand nie, moet dit maar op die harde manier ervaar. "Raadslid Skombingo het volhard om nie gehoor te gee aan beroepe tot orde nie.
"Ek wil vertrou dat hul koukuslede ook nou die les geleer het."
Click here for previous articles:
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
