'I will not be resigning' says Phalatse as motion to remove her looms

Johannesburg Mayor, Mpho Phalatse says she will not be resigning from her position in the city as opposition parties are gunning to remove her.

Phalatse released a statement on Thursday afternoon ahead of the special council sitting set for Friday.

 

The special sitting was scheduled by the newly elected speaker, Collen Makhubele, who was elected on Wednesday.

 

Congress of the People’s (COPE)'s Makhubele's election follows last month's ousting of the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Vasco Da Gama after he lost in a vote of no confidence.

 

Friday's special sitting is set to deliberate on a motion of no confidence against Phalatse.

 

Phalatse said over the last few days, there have been calls for her resignation.

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"I will not be resigning, and I along with the 10 Members of the Mayoral Committee intend on completing our electoral term of office so that we can build this beautiful City, across its seven Regions, and call it a City of Golden Opportunities, where all residents feel that they are part of a beautifully diverse community,” she said.

 

“This is not about me or political parties, this is about you, the 6-million residents of the City, who will ultimately suffer should this Multi-Party Government be dissolved through a motion of confidence in the Executive Mayor," she added.

 

Phalatse said there are "nefarious actors" working to dissolve the multi-party government and elect a "corrupt cabal" that will masquerade as a government. 

 

"Their only focus will be to empty the City’s coffers, stop service delivery and collapse the City,” she insisted.

 

“While we accept the democratic outcome of the election of a new Speaker of council and respect the office of the Speaker, what we will not allow is for that Office to be used as a vehicle to drive a political agenda that will ultimately collapse the city."