During a special council meeting held this morning (Thursday), Thembi Nkadimeng was elected to a second term in office as Polokwane Executive Mayor. She was opposed by Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus Leader Frank Haas.
She took the oath of office before Leshwene Mashapu, Chief Magistrate of Polokwane.
Nkadimeng was nominated by African National Congress (ANC) councillor Motalane Monakedi and duly seconded. In a surprising move, Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Franco Marx nominated Haas and the nomination was also seconded. Newly elected Speaker Mariri Ralefatane ruled that a secret vote be conducted after Marx reminded that the voting could not be by a show of hands. At this stage the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) indicated that they would abstain but later decided to join in the voting process facilitated by officials of the Independent Electoral Commission Limpopo.
Nkadimeng attained 50 votes while Haas drew 38. According to Marx, it appeared that the ten members of the DA, 26 from the EFF, one from the Congress of the People and one of the Vryheidsfront Plus all voted in favour of Haas.
Story and photo: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com
Featured photo: New Speaker of Council Mariri Ralefatane, re-elected Polokwane Executive Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng and Polokwane Chief Magistrate Leshwene Mashapu at the inauguration ceremony.
