 A new Executive Mayor has been elected for the West Rand district … and he is definitely a new broom.
The African National Congress‘ (ANC) Boyce Maneli was elected as the new executive mayor after obtaining 24 votes, in contrast to the 20 the opposition candidate received during the district’s inaugural council meeting.
The meeting, during which a new Mayor, Speaker and Council Whip were elected and sworn in, took place at the West Rand District council chambers on Wednesday, 24 August.
And, like the Rand West City and Mogale inaugural council meetings, the district meeting had its fair share of shockers.
There seemed to be some confusion within the Freedom Front Plus (FFP) after one of its members, who seemed not to be eligible to attend the meeting was asked to leave, but vehemently refused.
In addition, the Randfontein People’s Party (RPP) councillor apparently sided with the ANC in electing the new Speaker. This would explain the majority versus opposition vote split of 24–20. The breakdown of the council seats is as follows:
• ANC – 23
• DA – 12
• EFF – 6
• FFP – 2
• RPP – 1
The opposition vote was the result of cooperation between the EFF, the FFP and the DA.
The EFF was as feisty as ever, with one of its councillors wandering far off-track during the congratulatory section of the meeting. The councillor had to be called to order by the Speaker, who later cautioned all other councillors.
Smuts Menoana was elected as Council Whip after receiving 24 votes. Menoana was referred to as not being known well by the DA mayor-elect, Dennis Pretorius.
The Speaker, however, is not a new face. Nonkoliso Tundzi, former Westonaria Executive Mayor, was elected as Speaker also after receiving 24 votes. This is not the first time Tundzi will hold this kind of position, as she served as the district’s Speaker before being elected mayor.
Also read:
Randfontein and Westonaria to become one municipality
R’fontein – W’aria to merge regardless of metro
