Ekurhuleni DA saga: One other councillor on the verge of bolting

Ekurhuleni Democratic Alliance (DA) mayor Tania Campbell was on Thursday voted out for good. The motion of no confidence was the second levelled against the multiparty coalition this year, with Raymond Dhlamini booted as speaker in February. Campbell was voted out by 126 votes against 91.

The African Independent Congress (AIC), a splinter group from the ANC, had its sole councillor, Sivuyile Ngodwana, elected as the new mayor. He beat Campbell in the poll by 129 to 75 votes.

ALSO READ: AIC councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana elected new Ekurhuleni mayor

In accepting his new role, Ngodwana promised to rebuild trust between voters and the public representatives whom they voted for.

DA focused on service delivery

Campbell was also removed in October last year, only to be re-elected and given a second chance, which was wasted, said council insiders. The former mayor was often at the receiving end of criticism for lacking leadership qualities and making good on service delivery promises committed to before the 2021 municipal elections.

DA provincial chair Fred Nel said: “The multiparty coalition government, led by Campbell, in its efforts to turn the tide of decades of failure and neglect, prioritised throughout its time in office solutions to load shedding, services delivery and the eradication of corruption within the city.

ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni mayoral saga: ANC and EFF vie for power from DA’s ‘white arrogance’

“Under this government, 70km of roads were rehabilitated, over 500m2 of potholes were filled, and the pothole backlog of the city significantly reduced,” he said.

‘My way or the highway’

Residents and members of Campbell’s caucus may not agree with this statement.

DA insiders have often referred to the former mayor’s leadership style as “my way or the highway”, Recently, DA ward councillor Pieter Henning quit and cited poor service delivery to his ward, with his own party at the wheel. He was not the only public representative that backed out.

ALSO READ: DA’s Tania Campbell removed as Ekurhuleni mayor

Saturday Citizen has learnt of at least one other DA councillor who is on the verge of bolting – and allegedly he is not alone.

The DA-led coalition was often criticised for ignoring the plight of the less fortunate in Ekurhuleni – a status quo that the EFF told Saturday Citizen, will change under the city’s new leadership.

A red beret councillor said there were many people of all races who need to be helped – and that was what the party saw as a priority for the new alliance.

ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni speaker Raymond Dhlamini voted out through motion of no confidence

As in Johannesburg, it seems the strategy for the ANC-EFF alliance is not to pursue mayoral power. Instead, parties previously in opposition are seeking out mayoral committee member roles where responsibility, action and delivery can be made more tangible for voters. It’s with one eye firmly set on next year’s national elections.

– news@citizen.co.za