Political parties within Cape Town submits motion of no confidence against speaker Felicity Purchase

Political parties within the City of Cape Town has on Monday afternoon submitted a motion of no confidence against speaker Felicity Purchase. The hard copy was handed over on Monday, whilst a soft copy was emailed to Purchase on Friday.

PHOTO: Esobusi Mkangelwa

The ANC, EFF, GOOD, NCC, PA, and Al Jama-ah, believes that Purchase violated rules as speaker. Last month, the first Council meeting of 2025 was moved virtually, following fears of disruption due to allegations of two MMC’s into tender fraud in the city’s construction sector. Parties also believed that contracts under solid waste were not properly handled.

According to the Multi party caucus, they are giving motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the City of Cape Town because she has allegedly persistently displayed a pattern of behaviour that is unbecoming of the Office of the Speaker.

‘’Her actions consistently betray the lawful expectation that the Speaker will at all material times act without fear, favour or prejudice in conducting the affairs of the Council of the City of Cape Town.  Apparently the Speaker undermined the Programming Committee resolution that the first Council meeting of 2025 will be physical (NOT VIRTUAL) however the Speaker unilaterally changed this decision based on spurious "security reasons",’’ read the joint statement.

VIDEO: Esobusi Mkangelwa

‘’This unilateral abuse of power thus deprived elected public representatives their constitutional rights to freely participate and debate in the proceedings of Council. Further, this constitutes a flagrant violation of her Oath of Office,’’ it added.

VIDEO: Esobusi Mkangelwa

The EFF’s Banzi Dambuza called Purchase the “most cockiest Speaker the City of Cape Town has ever had”

Patrotic Alliance’s Cheslyn Steenberg said that they support the motion as they have also experienced the bias of the Speaker and bullying tactics.

In response to the motion: “The Office of the Speaker is aware of a motion submitted by the ANC in the above-mentioned regard, and will follow due process as outlined in the requirements dealing with motions as contained under Rule 18 of the Rules of Order,’’ said Purchase’s office

The motion will be debated at the next council meeting scheduled for 27 March 2025

Done By: Esobusi Mkangelwa