Key Takeaways
- The Tshwane Council Speaker, Mncedi Ndzwanana, has ruled for a closed debate over a report investigating conflict of interest allegations between Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise and a service provider.
- The report probed allegations that Modise was benefiting from a company doing business with the city, despite his claims of having resigned as a director before becoming an ANC councillor.
- Opposition party councillors have criticized the Speaker’s ruling, arguing that the report is in the public interest and should be open to the public.
- The DA’s Jacqui Uys has accused the Speaker of misinterpreting the legislation and has threatened to refer the decision to the MEC for COGTA.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Tshwane Council has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise and his alleged conflict of interest with a service provider, Triotic Protection Services. Earlier this year, the municipality commissioned an investigation into Modise and the company after accusations surfaced that the deputy mayor was benefiting from a company doing business with the city. Modise has acknowledged that he was a director of the company, but he insists that he resigned before becoming an ANC councillor for Tshwane in 2023. The investigation was aimed at determining whether Modise’s involvement with the company constituted a conflict of interest and whether he had breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
The Investigation Report
A final investigation report into the matter was tabled before the council on Thursday, but Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana ruled that its contents were confidential. The Speaker cited Section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct for Councillors and Section 51 of the POPI Act as the basis for his decision to consider the report in-committee, or in private. However, opposition party councillors have criticized the Speaker’s ruling, arguing that the report is in the public interest and should be open to the public. The DA’s Jacqui Uys accused the Speaker of misinterpreting the legislation, saying that the Councillor’s Code of Conduct requires that the report be considered in an open meeting.
Opposition Reaction
The opposition party councillors have reacted strongly to the Speaker’s ruling, with the DA’s Jacqui Uys leading the charge. Uys argued that the Speaker’s interpretation of the legislation was "completely wrong" and that the report should be treated as an open report to the public. She pointed out that the Councillor’s Code of Conduct Section 15(2) requires that the report be considered in an open meeting, and that the POPI Act does not apply to councillors in this case. Uys also threatened to refer the Speaker’s decision to the MEC for COGTA, saying that the Speaker himself was in breach of the Code of Conduct. The opposition party councillors are adamant that the report should be made public, citing the public interest in the matter and the need for transparency and accountability.
Implications of the Ruling
The Speaker’s ruling has significant implications for the transparency and accountability of the Tshwane Council. By considering the report in-committee, the council is effectively shielding the contents of the report from public scrutiny. This has raised concerns about the potential for corruption and abuse of power, and has undermined the public’s trust in the council. The opposition party councillors are right to argue that the report should be made public, as it is in the public interest to know whether the Deputy Mayor has breached the Code of Conduct and whether he has been involved in any wrongdoing. The Speaker’s ruling has also raised questions about his own impartiality and his commitment to transparency and accountability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Tshwane Council’s decision to consider the investigation report into Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise’s alleged conflict of interest in private has sparked controversy and criticism from opposition party councillors. The Speaker’s ruling has been accused of being in breach of the Code of Conduct, and the opposition has threatened to refer the matter to the MEC for COGTA. The implications of the ruling are significant, and the public has a right to know whether the Deputy Mayor has been involved in any wrongdoing. The council must prioritize transparency and accountability, and ensure that the report is made public in the interest of the public. Ultimately, the council’s decision will have far-reaching consequences for the transparency and accountability of the Tshwane Council, and it is essential that the right decision is made to maintain the public’s trust in the council.
