Hill-Lewis Budget Speech stalled by chaos over speaker’s no confidence motion

CAPE TOWN - The delivery of the City of Cape Town’s budget by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has been stalled by chaos over a motion of no confidence in the speaker, Felicity Purchase.  

Opening proceedings on Thursday morning, Purchase noted that the councillor who tabled the motion was not present in the chamber to move it.  

Purchase said in terms of the house rules, the motion could thus not proceed.  

Hill-Lewis attempted to begin his Budget Speech, but he was prevented by outraged councillors who interjected, broke out in song, and called for Purchase to recuse herself from the chair.  

It has since emerged that the mover of the motion, the former leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in council, Banele Majingo, has on Thursday joined the Democratic Alliance (DA).