The City of Johannesburg council will attempt to elect a new chief whip at its next meeting after three candidates failed to garner enough votes.

ANC councillor Khazamula Chauke managed 96 votes, while the DA’s Nicole Rahn received 71, and ActionSA councillor Joyce Ntombela mustered 37 votes on Thursday.

Following the vote count, Johannesburg council Speaker Margaret Arnolds committed to announcing the date for the next council sitting as early as today. During this sitting, councillors are expected to address the election of the chief whip, among other agenda items.

The council was expected to elect a replacement for ANC councillor Sithembiso Zungu, who was appointed as Group Corporate and Shared Services MMC last month by Mayor Dada Morero.

DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said, despite two rounds of voting, the number of votes could not secure an outright winner. Additionally, there were about 41 spoiled ballots.

“There seems to be some discord between ANC factions and their coalition partners. It was very disturbing that the ANC and their government of local unity (GLU) partners could not agree and seemed to be more interested in positions than serving the residents of Johannesburg,” she said.

According to Kayser-Echeozonjoku, the DA is now waiting for the speaker to call a meeting to start the process again.

“Residents should get priority, not the fight for positions that are currently happening,” she added.

ActionSA chief whip Elmari Atterbury said the party will be fielding Ntombela as its candidate.  

During the council meeting, three ActionSA Section 79 committee chairpersons, Vhengani Munyai (environment and infrastructure services department), Mpumi Edward (finance), and Sarah Wissler (public safety), were ousted in motions of no confidence.

The ousting of the three chairpersons of committees, which provide oversight and strengthen the work of municipal councils, follows the voting out of former ActionSA councillor and Arnolds’ predecessor Nobuhle Mthembu in June. Mthembu has since left ActionSA following her axing as council speaker.

ANC regional coordinator Sasabona Manganye did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.

However, some councillors in the Government of Local Unity (GLU) complained that the ANC was being self-destructive and ill-disciplined.

The ANC, as the majority party in the GLU, refused to allow one of its smaller partners to stand for election to the position of chief whip.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

Source link