New speaker but no mayor yet at RNM
A ballot paper process was used for electing the speaker and all parties voted, meaning there were no spoiled ballot papers.
After postponements to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality‘s (RNM) council meeting a few times, it finally sat on Tuesday morning.
Some 71 councillors, including PR councillors were sworn in. With the ANC leading with the most number of seats, the party elected a new speaker for RNM, Zodwa Precious Mzindle.
Sfundo Ngwane was also nominated by the IFP and other political parties as their candidate for the speaker’s post.
A ballot paper process was used for electing the speaker and all parties voted, meaning there were no spoiled ballot papers.
Mzindle was previously a PR councillor and had replaced the late PR councillor, Nompumelelo Ciyi.
However, with all that done, RNM still has no mayor, deputy mayor and chief whip. Also, there are no executive members for the municipality.
When it was time for the ANC councillors to nominate their mayor and deputy mayor, the ANC asked for these items to be removed from the agenda.
This is when things heated up. The DA, IFP, EFF and VF Plus opposed this and said the meeting had been prepared for the day, and everything had been set so these items should be resolved in the meeting.
Opposition parties and the ANC argued back and forth about the items to be discussed.
Eventually, the new speaker asked the councillors to vote by a show of hands if they wanted the agenda items to be discussed, and all ANC councillors voted that the items be removed.
Other political parties decided to leave the meeting and the situation became somewhat chaotic.
The ANC then asked that the agenda items be moved to the next council meeting, however a date has not yet been confirmed.
After some time, the other parties returned to the meeting and the process of electing 10 councillors to represent RNM started.
The ANC gained five seats, followed by the DA and IFP with two seats each and the EFF with one seat. Umuziwabuntu Municipality also held its council meeting on Monday this week, but the meeting was disrupted due to political issues.
They reconvened the next day and the newly elected mayor is Lindelani Sboniso Zungu of the ANC, deputy mayor is Mondli Thulani Ncayiyana of Al Jama-ah and the speaker is Victor Thabani Mbata of the DA.
Umzumbe Municipality has also elected its speaker, Sboniso ‘Matsa’ Khanyile from the IFP. Deputy mayor Mhlengi Luthuli from the ANC and Bongani Nyuswa as the mayor.
Council meetings started on Monday and Tuesday this week, but issues led to elections not taking place.
Umzumbe had its last chance to elect the mayor and deputy mayor yesterday (24th).
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