DA betrayal: Joburg councillor faces disciplinary for ‘siding with ANC’

The DA have been left fuming by the actions of one of their councillors this week. Anthony Still, who represents the party in Johannesburg, broke ranks with the whip and failed to adhere to instructions set out in their pre-meeting caucus.

When the DA Caucus walked out, DA Cllr Anthony Still remained. DA Cllr Anthony Still, VF+ and ACDP helped the ANC form Quorum to convene the Council Meeting. @DA_GPL @DAGauteng @Our_DA

— Joburg DA Caucus (@DA_JHB) January 30, 2020

Rogue councillor: Who is Anthony Still?

Still is accused of defying the mandate, which told every DA councillor to dodge a sitting of the Johannesburg Council on Thursday. The Blues are adamant that the current ANC speaker Nonceba Molwebe has been elected to the position illegally, and therefore, the meeting was not legitimate.

The DA’s Vasco Da Gama was initially ousted in December, but a review of the minutes from that fateful day last month suggests that he wasn’t actually given the boot. The legal validity of the speaker’s status remains up in the air, and the opposition party were hoping to put on a strong display of solidarity in protest.

DA loyalty challenged in Johannesburg Council

Instead, Anthony Still committed what the DA see as a ‘cardinal sin’. Funzela Ngobeni is the Johannesburg Regional Chairperson, and he confirmed that the rogue councillor is now facing a stiff punishment:

“Prior to the Council meeting in Johannesburg yesterday, the DA held a Caucus meeting during which it was decided that the Caucus would consider various options in Council, including that of staging a walkout if the meeting undermined the integrity of Council and went against democratic processes.”

“The DA could not participate in a Council meeting that was being presided over by an illegitimate Speaker. This was an instruction given to every Councillor in the DA Caucus. However, Councillor Anthony Still decided to act against this mandate and remained in the Council Chambers, in a show of solidarity with those who choose to ignore the rule of law for their narrow self-interests.”

Funzela Ngobeni

An outcome from Still’s disciplinary process will be shared in due course. It’s the second time in two months that DA councillors have broke rank in Johannesburg and, essentially, took the opposition’s side. Three DA councillors voted to elect an ANC mayor in December, and they also felt the wrath of the senior structures. Two politicians have been severely sanctioned, and a third is facing a personal hearing.