The five ANC MMCs who abstained from being sworn in last week were finally sworn in on April 13 at the OR Tambo Government Precinct in Germiston.
Last Thursday, EFF MMCs were sworn in without the members from the ANC, who were dissatisfied with the list of MMCs released by the new Mayor of Ekurhuleni Sivuyile Ngodwana the previous night.
According to inside information from the ANC, the list was rejected on the basis that it did not reflect the agreements reached between the parties, more specifically concerning strategic portfolios in the metro.
The 10 MMC positions were divided equally between the ANC and the EFF, with the latter controlling the R54.1b municipal purse, processes and decisions made in council.
Despite the ANC’s unhappiness with the list, the MMC positions were not changed.
Minority parties have also expressed their dissatisfaction because the mayoral committee was not reflective of any members of the minority, even though they were instrumental in the removal of the former speaker Raymond
Dhlamini, former mayor Tania Campbell and the election of the now EFF speaker of council, the ANC chief whip and the and AIC mayor.
The minority parties, known as the Super Seven and comprised of the PAC, IRASA, AIC, ICM, ATM, Cope and the UDM, appear to have been used as mere proxies in a much larger ANC-EFF political game because none of these parties are represented in Ngodwana’s mayoral committee.
When asked for comment, ANC chief whip in council Jongizizwa Dlabathi confirmed that ANC councillors were not initially sworn in as “at the time, the party was still engaged in processes to iron out some challenges with the mayor”.
“As soon as an agreement has been reached, our councillors will be sworn in,” he said.
Campbell was recently voted out of office in a motion of no confidence that led to the election of Ngodwana of the AIC.
The Super Seven, who were responsible for tabling the three motions of no confidence against the mayor, speaker of council and chief whip of council Khetha Shandu, was rewarded with the position of mayor.
The EFF’s chief whip in council, Nkululeko Dunga, said, “Self-interest does not apply in the coalition government. It is impossible to choose which strategic positions you want to occupy, there needs to be a compromise. It doesn’t matter who occupies which portfolio you are occupying, but as long as you are part of the collective and collective leadership,” he said.
Ngodwana urged the new MMCs to hit the ground running and accelerate service delivery.
“Ours is to serve the communities, nothing else. Let us work hard to ensure services reach the people. Let us be committed and interact with the people,” he said.
The DA caucus chairperson in Ekurhuleni, Raymond Dhlamini, said the party would continue to hold the ANC-EFF coalition accountable for good clean governance.
“Cadres should be warned that we will not sit by idly while taxpayers’ money is looted,” he added.
The 10 Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) are:
• Water, Sanitation and Energy: Leshaka Manamela (EFF)
• Community Service: Health, Social Development and SHRAC: Bridget Thusi (EFF)
• Infrastructure Services: Real Estate: Kgopelo Hollo (EFF)
• Environment and Waste Management Services: Eunice Matloga (EFF)
• Transport Planning, Roads and Stormwater: Andile Mgwevu (ANC)
• Community Safety: EMPD and DEMS: Sizakele Masuku (ANC)
• Corporate and Shared Services: Human Resources, Communications and Brand Management, Strategy, Risk, Legal and Internal Audit: Nkosindiphi Doctor Xhakaza (ANC)
• Human Settlements: Masele Madihlaba (ANC)
• City Planning and Economic Development: Nomadlozi Nkosi (ANC).
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