The election of an executive mayor for the City of Ekurhuleni on November 2 was postponed, following extended caucus discussions.
Before any mayoral nominations could be announced, parties called for time to allow caucuses to meet.
The election follows the vote of no confidence against former Mayor Tania Campbell on October 26.
The EFF abstained from voting, resulting in the ANC passing the motion with the support of minority parties.
Speaker of the council Raymond Dhlamini said he had to adjourn the meeting following the processes of the council.
“There were several caucuses during the sitting and the councillors were not back in council when they were expected to be.
“We had to adjourn the meeting. We will release a new date for the next special sitting within the next seven days,” he explained.
The chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, confirmed they were locked in a robust meeting with the EFF and were at the tail-end of negotiations.
“The ANC will not be contesting for the position of mayor and will be voting with the EFF during the election of the mayor in the next sitting,” he explained.
Solly Msimanga, leader of the DA in Gauteng, stated the ANC and EFF in Ekurhuleni cannot even agree among themselves on the way forward, much less pick a new mayor.
“The ANC infighting and the EFF’s flip-flopping in Ekurhuleni has left the council in limbo and sets service delivery back once again. The council meeting was postponed after the ANC could not get enough of its caucus to agree to vote for an EFF mayor.”
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He added the DA will continue to fight for the residents of Ekurhuleni who deserve better than ‘the shambles on show in the council chambers today’.
The IFP in Gauteng expressed its disappointment with the council for failing to quorate and elect a new mayor.
“The IFP is concerned that these unnecessary delays will jeopardise service delivery to the people of Ekurhuleni.
Furthermore, the councillors’ failure to return to the meeting demonstrates a shameful disregard for the people who elected them to serve them,” said IFP Gauteng provincial secretary, Ald Alco Ngobese.
“As a result, the IFP wishes to remind councillors in Ekurhuleni of their oath to voters, which requires them to serve the people first and foremost.”
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