Johannesburg - The motion of no confidence in City of Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba and Speaker Vasco da Gama was on Thursday defeated in the City Council chambers.
Mashaba and da Gama faced a motion of no confidence brought by the African National Congress Joburg.
The vote, as well as motion to suspend two ANC councillors - one already suspended by the ANC for illegally selling municipal land and another convicted of assault, but not yet sentenced - was heard on Thursday.
Following a lengthy council meeting, the motion was finally tabled and debated by members of both the opposition, EFF as well as DA.
In the end, 121 votes were in support of the motion against Mashaba while 140 votes were against it, resulting in the planned motion failing.
In da Gama's case, 120 supported the motion while 140 voted against it.
Mashaba, a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, became Mayor of Johannesburg in August last year following a coalition agreement between smaller parties to oust the ANC from power after the local government elections.
Mashaba has been on a drive to root out corruption and crime in the City. He has not been shy to remove tainted senior officials at key entities and review some contracts entered into by the City’s former administration under the ANC.
Earlier on, hundreds of DA supporters matched to the City chambers to show their support for the mayor and the speaker.