Please find attached soundbite in Afrikaans by Cornél Dreyer.
Please find attached soundbite in English by Cornél Dreyer.
- The Special Council meeting could not lawfully proceed after quorum was not achieved.
- Continued procedural irregularities are undermining the legitimacy of Council decisions and delaying service delivery.
- The DA is calling for urgent provincial intervention to restore lawful governance and accountability.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the continued breakdown of governance at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM), where political infighting and repeated procedural irregularities are crippling the functioning of Council and undermining public confidence in local government.
The Special Council meeting scheduled for Friday, 3 July 2026, once again exposed the instability within Council. Despite it being evident before the scheduled commencement of the meeting that quorum had not been achieved, proceedings nevertheless continued in apparent disregard of the requirements of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act and the municipality’s Standing Rules of Order.
The DA believes that adherence to legislative prescripts and Council rules is fundamental to lawful decision-making. When these rules are ignored, the legitimacy of Council resolutions is placed in question and the municipality’s ability to govern effectively is compromised.
Prior to the sitting, the DA formally notified the Speaker of the procedural concerns relating to the meeting. Despite these concerns being raised, they were not addressed, further eroding confidence in the integrity of Council processes.
What is particularly concerning is that these governance failures continue despite ongoing oversight by provincial authorities. Residents cannot continue to pay the price while political instability and procedural failures prevent Council from fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to govern effectively and deliver services.
The DA believes that local government exists to serve communities and not political factions. Council meetings should focus on improving service delivery, strengthening oversight, and making decisions in the best interests of residents, rather than becoming casualties of political contestation.
The continued failure to comply with quorum requirements and legislative prescripts undermines accountability, weakens democratic institutions, and diminishes public trust in local government.
The DA therefore calls on the relevant provincial oversight authorities to urgently intervene to restore lawful governance, ensure strict compliance with legislation and Council rules, and safeguard the integrity of Council proceedings.
As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, residents have an opportunity to elect leaders who place accountable governance above political factionalism. The DA remains committed to building municipalities where the rule of law is respected, Council functions effectively, and residents come first.