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Physical Address:
ERF 823
Main Street
Mount Frere
5090
Speaker of Council Contact details
Buso.Phindiwe@umzimvubu.gov.za
Tel: (+27) 392558503
Cell: 082 322 7021
Cllr Happy Mzikayise Ngqasa was born and raised in KwaBhaca at Nqalweni Administrative area and commenced his education at Antioch Junior Secondary School. He later matriculated at Zibokwana Senior Secondary School in KwaBhaca. He furthered his studies with the University of Walter Sisulu, where he obtained his Bachelor of Sciences in Chemistry. He also holds a Diploma in Local Government Law and Administration from Fort Hare University.
Cllr Ngqasa began his professional career as a teacher in 2006, teaching Physical Sciences and Mathematics for a period of 10 years. He started his political career at the structures of the ANC Youth League as a Buthanani (ward13) Branch Secretary in 2005- 2009. He later became the Regional executive committee member of the ANCYL at Alfred Nzo Region from the year 2009-2011. Between 2011-2014, he was elected as the Deputy Chairperson of the ANCYL in the Alfred Nzo Region and served as a Regional Secretary of the ANCYL between 2015-2017.
In the ANC structures, Cllr Ngqasa served as a Branch Secretary between 2008- 2017, while serving as an ANC Sub-Regional Treasurer. During 2014- 2017, he was elected as the Sub-Regional Secretary of the ANC, where he was later elected as the Alfred Nzo Regional Executive Committee Member.
During his leadership tenure at Umzimvubu, Cllr Ngqasa expressed his commitment towards rural communities, where he became the Secretary of ULM South African Youth Council between 2011-2013, wherein he was later elected as Chairperson of the Alfred Nzo District SAYC.
Before assuming his duties as Umzimvubu Council Speaker for the 2021- 2026 Council term, Cllr Ngqasa served as member of the Municipal Executive Committee (EXCO) as the Portfolio Head of the Budget and Treasury Department from 2016- 2021.
OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER UMZIMVUBU LOCAL MUNICIPALITY |
ABOUTH THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER
1.1 STATUTORY FUNCTIONS OF THE SPEAKER AS SET OUT IN SECTION 37 OF THE
MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES ACT
1.1.1 Presides at meetings of the council and signs the minutes of the council meetings;
1.1.2 Ensures that council meets at least quarterly;
1.1.3 Maintains order during meetings of the council and ensures that the meetings are conducted in compliance with the council’s rules of order;
1.1.4 performs all other duties assigned to him/her in the council’s rules of order;
1.1.5 Ensures compliance in the council with the Code of Conduct as set out in Schedule 1 to the Municipal Systems Act.
1.1.6 Performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated to the Speaker in terms of section 32 of the Structures Act.
1.2 OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE SPEAKER
1.2.1 Chairs committees such as the Rules and Order Committee.
1.2.2 The Speaker is in charge of the legislative arm of the Municipal Council and must therefore guard the integrity of the legislative process, as well as protect the “checks and balances” between the legislature and the executive.
1.2.3 The Speaker has to ensure that by-laws that are tabled comply with the Constitution, Structures Act, Systems Act and other applicable National and Provincial legislation.
1.2.4 The Speaker must ensure that the procedural requirements that apply specifically to the adoption of by-laws have been adhered to.
1.2.5 The Speaker has to guard the integrity of the Council, which requires the Speaker to guard against the abuse of Councilor’s privileges and interests.
1.2.6 The Speaker should deal with complaints lodged against Councilors by members of the community.
1.2.7 The Speaker must exercise his or her duties within the rules as determined by the Council, and is therefore accountable to the Council.
1.2.8 The Speaker calls Council meetings and decides on their time and venue. However, if a majority of Councilors request a meeting, the Speaker must convene a meeting accordingly.
1.2.9 Although the Council is the ultimate decision maker on the rules of order, the Speaker should take the initiative in the policy formulation around the rules of order.
1.2.10 The Speaker must further ensure that:
1.3 LINE OF AUTHORITY
1.3.1 Reports to Council.
DELEGATIONS TO SPEAKER
The following powers are delegated by the council to the office of the speaker and may not be sub-delegated:
Delegated authority to approve attendances at workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures, special courses, meetings or all other attendances of the same nature for councillors (excluding the Mayor, executive committee Members and officials attached to these offices.
13. Delegated authority to serve as the Internal Appeal Authority as per Section 5 sub-section 5.3 of the Umzimvubu Municipality Section 14 Manual – Access to Information