The Democratic Alliance has claimed the first victory in its effort to win the City of Ekurhuleni, with its nominee Raymond Dlamini voted as speaker of the council.
Dlamini secured 116 votes to become speaker in Ekurhuleni while ANC nominee Dorah Mlambo received 104. There were two invalid ballots.
This major shake-up ends ANC’s reign as the composition of the City of Ekurhuleni municipality alters the dynamics for the top post.
DA councillor Raymond Dlamini was elected as speaker of council ahead of the vote for the mayor.
Of the 267 councillors present at the inaugural council meeting after the November 1 local government elections, 230 ballot papers were cast.
According to Matshazi, eight were unused while none were cancelled and two were spoilt.
In Johannesburg, Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie expressed his excitement over the outcome of the negotiations.
”We are happy. Coloured people have a right and they are not going anywhere,” he said.
The DA distanced itself from claims that it did not back a multi-party minority coalition in the country’s economic hub.
”This minority coalition in Johannesburg will not be able to govern without the support of the EFF, that will remain outside the coalition but dictate its actions on the threat of bringing it down.
“The EFF will thus be able to direct the mayor’s actions on many issues, as the EFF did after 2016 when Herman Mashaba became the ’EFF’s mayor’. We do not intend to repeat that failed mission again,” the DA said.
The party was adamant that it was impossible for opposition parties to form a majority coalition in Johannesburg and effectively gave the balance of power to the EFF.
DA said ”We cannot allow the EFF in by the back door, where they pretend to be coalition led by Mashaba. We tried that before and it failed. We learn from experience and we keep our promises.”