#Ekurhuleni councillors are sworn in

Mayor of the Ekurhuleni metro in Gauteng, Mzwandile Masina. File picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Mayor of the Ekurhuleni metro in Gauteng, Mzwandile Masina. File picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Aug 23, 2016

Share

Johannesburg - ANC Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Mzwandile Masina was among the first batch of councillors to be sworn during the first inaugural council meeting following the watershed municipal elections earlier this month.

Masina, the deputy minister of trade and industry, is widely expected to take over the reigns from outgoing mayor Mondli Gungubele.

The ruling party obtained 48.6 percent (109 seats) of the votes during the August 3 elections, against the DA’s 77 seats, EFF (25), AIC (4), FFPlus and IFP (2 each), and one seat each for COPE, ACDP, PAC, and the Independent Ratepayers’ Association.

Prior to the induction of councillors on Tuesday morning, ANC councillors appeared upbeat that they would secure a majority vote despite only managing to secure less than the required 50 percent of support.

ANC councillors broke out in song in council chambers in a sterling show of force while the opposition DA signalled signs of change in an apparent suggestion that the municipality would be under a new regime after the elections of speaker, mayor and chief whip of Council.

The Independent Newspapers understand that the ANC signed a pact with the AIC and PAC with the hope of getting the required percentage to secure the key positions.

At the moment, however, induction of councillors was still continuing. After that, nomination for the position of speaker would be called. The ANC and DA are expected to nominate their individual candidates before the matter is placed for a vote.

If one of them wins, the newly appointed Speaker would then oversee the election of the mayor and later the chief whip of council.

DA mayoral candidate Ghaleb Cachalia was also sworn in as councillor on Tuesday morning. Those in the gallery include Gungubele, ANC provincial secretary Hope Papo, ANC Youth League president Collen Maine, and Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton Mackenzie, among others.

@luyolomkentane

@BaldwinNdaba

The Star

Related Topics: