DA Clr Ashor Sarupen tabled the question in the monthly council meeting to the Members of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport, Clr Thumbu Mahlangu, held on Thursday, February 27.
According to Sarupen, metro busses were not available to the public on the day in question, as they were used to transport ANC members to disrupt the march.
However, when the question was presented, Sarupen was accused of having the wrong dates and his motion was dismissed.
“It is not known who made such an amendment within the administration, but the rapturous applause and derisive laughter from the ANC benches when this was pointed out shows that there was possibly foul play,” said Sarupen.
The DA suspects even more strongly than before that the ANC was intent upon forming a reception committee and did so at public expense.
At the meeting, Sarupen demanded that the Speaker investigate this change to the question, at which point the Speaker refused the request.
“What does the ANC-led administration and ANC councillors have to hide about ratepayer-owned buses that were photographed bringing ANC members to disrupt the DA’s initial march?
“Were these buses, paid for by the taxpayer and ratepayer, abused? Lastly, why does the ANC Speaker refuse to investigate why the question was amended through its processing and tabling in the house? Surely an investigation would exonerate those involved,” Sarupen asked.
Early in February, the Advertiser also received a complaint from residents regarding the poor operation system of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality school bus services – buses arriving late, or not arriving at all, due to a shortage of buses and bus drivers.
The Advertiser did not receive response from the metro by the time of publication.
