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Brink comments after removal as Tshwane mayor
TSHWANE - Ousted Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink reacted to the successful motion of no-confidence in him on Thursday.
Brink said, "It's obviously a great disappointment that what happened."
"And my first priority and that of the Democratic Alliance is to make sure that the things we achieved in government are not reversed by whoever and whatever confused group of people now take over."
"I'm going to be looking at three things in particular: they can't screw up what we've done on Hammanskraal water. We will be keeping a very close eye that they don't take that apart."
"That we ensure that the people of Hammanskraal have got clean water in their taps and that we knock out the water tanker business."
"The second important thing is we are going to check that they don't bully or go after senior officials who are not politically aligned to any party, regardless ANC/DA, professionals who have to make tough decisions."
"Thirdly, we have to make sure that the Rooiwal five, those five officials, very close ties to the ANC, that the disciplinary processes against them are not withdrawn."
READ: Tshwane places five officials on precautionary suspension over Rooiwal tender award
"Those are the things that I'll be watching, in opposition. And really we've got a significant role to play here, to make sure that the city of Tshwane doesn't collapse."
"It's baffling what the ANC has done here," Brink said.
"These are clearly the anti-GNU forces. These are the folks who don't want the Government of National Unity to succeed and they seem to hold the balance of power here in the ANC in Gauteng. They don't have a clear plan but they are going to rely on the EFF and that's a very bad sign for the city of Tshwane."
"Our job is to make sure that they don't do damage and to make sure we meet them in 2026."
He discussed the possibility of working with the ANC and ActionSA.
"It's a little bit bizarre that the ANC despite repeated attempts to get them to withdraw the motion of no confidence would come with a motion of no confidence; would behave in the way that they did today and then suddenly want to work with us. So, was what they said in council today true or not?"
"If it's not true, why did they go ahead with the motion of no confidence despite repeated attempts to dissuade them?"
"Repeated attempts to persuade them not to do so! We will have to see. I haven't had any gesture of good faith from the ANC's point. They looked pretty happy there with the EFF and ActionSA. And I'm not quite sure what the future holds for the city."
"We will act in the best interests of the residents of this city. It's not about me, it's not about my chain or position, it's about the residents of Tshwane and actually having metros that function."