DURBAN - The eThekwini council meeting to elect new leaders has begun at Moses Mabhida stadium this morning.
The process to elect the city's new leadership for the next five years kicked off with the swearing in of councillors. Mxolisi Kaunda, the city's former mayor who is set to retain the mayoral chains, was among the first group of 10 councillors to be sworn in.
About 221 councillors are being sworn in as the first step to form a council.
Apart from the mayor, a deputy mayor and the speaker of the municipality will also be elected. The ANC revealed yesterday that Kaunda was its preferred candidate for mayor.
The ANC is able to put forward its candidate for mayor thanks to the support of the IFP. The DA will also put forward their own candidates to contest, DA caucus leader Nicole Graham will contest the mayor's position and Thabani Mthethwa will contest the position of the speaker.
Meanwhile, new EFF councillors were in a joyous mood after they were sworn in. The councillors celebrated by signing and dancing outside Moses Mabhida stadium where the first council meeting of the new term is taking place.
THE MERCURY