By Thys Khiba – Former executive mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni and current regional chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC), Mzwandile Masina confirmed his withdrawal from the mayoral race.
This comes after the council postponed their sitting for the election of the mayor on Wednesday.
Within the next seven days, various political parties which includes the EFF, ANC, Action SA, DA will be expected to elect the new mayor for the city in an extraordinary meeting.
The Council Speaker, Raymond Dlamini indicated that the council will have a special meeting to elect the new mayor.
It has been reported that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is intending to take over the mayoral position.
On Wednesday, the EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu and Secretary General Marshall Dlamini had a meeting with the ANC Provincial Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi to allegedly talk about their intentions of pushing their candidate, NkululekoDunga for the mayoral position for the City.
Meanwhile, the Action SA Provincial leader Bongani Baloyi has indicated that their party is no longer in coalition and collaboration with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Baloyi told media that his views about the ‘arrogant’ DA represent the views of his President Herman Mashaba and the party.
Meanwhile, the DA Provincial leader Solly Msimanga has reacted with shock to the views of Baloyi. Msimanga told media that what Baloyi has share with the public is not a true reflection of what was said his meeting with Mashaba.
The municipality is currently without a mayor.
The municipality indicated that service delivery won’t be affected by the absence of the executive mayor as the municipal manager is expected to continue with service delivery related matters.
The municipality becomes the second one to have a motion of no confidence against the DA mayor in the Gauteng province.
This follows the unlawful and unconstitutional removal of the City of Johannesburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse.
Phalatse was removed as the mayor through a motion of no confidence brought by minority parties and backed by the African National Congress (ANC).
Council Speaker and COPE leader Colleen Makhubele has been ordered by the South Gauteng High Court in Joburg to pay the costs of the DA’s urgent application, including the costs of two counsels.
“I find that the Speaker was not lawfully permitted to treat DA Councillors as if they had no right to participate in the Council meeting because they had refused to sign the register.”
This follows court ruling by Judge Raylene Keightley, which declared the Democratic Alliance (DA) Mpho Phalatse as the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg.
“The First Respondent is directed to pay the costs of the application, including the costs of two counsel, one being senior counsel.”
CENTRAL NEWS
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