Update Video

GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - The safety of the George council chambers, or rather lack thereof, was the reason given for the postponement of last week's council meeting at short notice.

However, this week a workshop for councillors was scheduled at the chambers for Monday, and a Mayco [mayoral committee] meeting for Thursday [today]. This led to a debate on the chambers' safety at Monday's workshop.

ANC Chief Whip Nomawethu Jantjies-Gushman and PBI's Virgill Gericke said their parties asked Speaker Gerrit Pretorius for a report on the safety issues. "Last week the chambers were locked for security reasons, today [Monday] they want us to meet for a workshop.

If it's unsafe, we need a report on this matter," said Gericke. The workshop was adjourned following the debate.

Pretorius last week said the security and safety arrangements are being investigated, whereafter a date for the next council meeting will be considered.

Motions of no confidence submitted by the ANC against Speaker Gerrit Pretorius and Deputy Mayor Charlotte Clarke were on last Thursday's agenda and had everyone guessing at the possible outcome of the meeting. It was clear that the DA could end up in troubled waters with a diminishing number of councillors supporting their side.

Press briefing with opposition councillors. From left are Nomawethu Jantjies-Gushman (ANC), Virgill Gericke (PBI), Mercia Draghoender (Good), Charlie Williams (ANC) and Langa Langa (ANC). Photo: Michelle Pienaar

'Until further notice'
The council meeting was postponed "until further notice" early last Thursday morning.

This decision by Pretorius was highly criticised by some of the opposition parties, who accused the DA for being more concerned about political power than the needs of the community.

Opposition parties flooded the second floor of the municipality and demanded a meeting.

They argued that it was of utmost importance to table an item on the adjustment budget before Council by 28 February [last Friday]. They claimed that several projects, including the development of the tartan track in Rosemoor and the upgrade of the roads for the phase 4B Go George roll-out, would be hampered if the meeting did not take place.

Watch a video below:

Speaker Gerrit Pretorius said the DA would not be so irresponsible as to jeopardise service delivery. 

"We requested an extension for the submission of the adjustment budget, for which the mechanism exists," he said. "This matter [the safety of the chambers] will not be resolved in public. The opposition asks numerous questions, to which they are entitled, but they refuse to listen to answers or explanations. It doesn't fit in with what they want to hear."

Jantjies-Gushman said the DA is aware that they wouldn't have a majority in Council should they hold a meeting. "They are playing for time," she said.