Cilliers Brink, former Tshwane mayor under the Democratic Alliance leadership, was officially ousted from his post as Tshwane’s executive mayor during a council session at Tshwane House on Thursday, September 26.
This decision follows a motion of no confidence submitted by the African National Congress (ANC) with the Tshwane speaker, who informed Brink of the move.
The ANC claims that Brink has failed to address fundamental concerns in the city, such as ongoing service delivery failures and mismanagement of public funds.
Despite having the support of Helen Zille, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Brink was ousted after serving for 18 months in a row.
Before the final verdict, Brink stated his intention to contest the vote of no confidence.
He said, “It’s really sad that the ANC has not withdrawn this motion. They can still do it, but the longer they wait, the less likely a successful outcome. My general sense is one of fear about the city, but we are battling hard.”
Brink stressed the necessity of preserving the gains done during his tenure, such as the Hammanskraal water project, which aimed to provide inhabitants with clean water.
“We want to cut the ribbon on the Hammanskraal water project, which provides people with clean water from their taps. We want to be there for each milestone and celebrate the city’s financial turnaround,” he said.
The vote to remove Brink had 120 councillors in favor, 87 opposed, and one abstained.
The motion garnered support from both the ANC and ActionSA, which is preparing to form a coalition to take control of the city.
During the voting, supporters of Brink gathered outside Tshwane House to demonstrate their sympathy.
The capital city is now without a mayor, allowing both the ANC and ActionSA to potentially gain control.
Both parties have been outspoken critics of Brink’s leadership during his tenure as mayor.
