The City of Ekurhuleni has a new mayor.
Mzwandile Masina, from the ANC, will take up the position of executive mayor of the metro following yesterday’s (Tuesday) inaugural council meeting in Germiston.
Masina won the majority votes (117) against the DA’s candidate, Ghaleb Cachalia (106) in the tightly contested position.
There were 224 ballots cast and one was a spoilt vote.
The new chief whip is Jongizizwe Dlabathi from the ANC, and the ANC’s Patricia Kumalo was re-elected as the speaker of council.
Dlabathi received 117 votes, while the DA’s Tania Campbell received 107 votes
Kumalo received 117 votes, while Shadow Shabangu from the DA received 106 votes.
One vote was spoilt.
The meeting was initially presided over by secretary of council Nana Moloi as the city manager, Khaya Ngema, who resigned on Wednesday, last week, was not in attendance.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to stand before you today as the new executive mayor of Ekurhuleni,” said Masina during his acceptance speech.
“Thank you for showing faith in me to run this maverick city and I promise that I shall do my best to ensure that ours is a good story to tell at all times.
“Madam Speaker, allow me in this inaugural address to take this opportunity to thank South Africans for once again deepening our democracy by voting in the recent local government elections.
“Thank you for ensuring that this freedom for which many of our stalwarts paid the ultimate price for is appreciated.
“Having said so though, let me throw caution to the wind and appeal to all eligible voters to ensure that they practice their right to vote so that they too can enjoy the fruits of our hard-earned democracy lest we risk losing its value.
“People of Ekurhuleni, as the ANC-led government we stand before you today to recommit to serve you.
“Indeed, we are at your mercy.
“Your future would not have been in better hands.
“Building up to the elections we embarked on an extensive campaign anchored on a door-to-door strategy, attempting to find out from you what your needs and true living conditions were.
“You took us into confidence and told us that jobs, housing, quality services, corruption and poverty alleviation were on top of your agenda.
“Indeed, we felt your anger and frustrations.
“We heard you and today we want to assure you that this day marks the beginning of the hard work of ensuring that those issues you raised with us are speedily attended to.”
Masina is the former deputy minister of Trade and Industry.
During proceedings yesterday, this was raised by the DA, who questioned whether he was still a member of parliament and the cabinet, and whether he was receiving remuneration.
Masina, however, maintained he had resigned from both parliament and the cabinet.
Masina has also worked as deputy director general at the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, and was the CEO at the Gauteng Film Commission.
Also read: Ekurhuleni city manager resigns
Gungubele welcomes mayoral candidate
Mayor to deliver final State of the City address
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