The ANC in the province has only managed to finalise the deployment of deputy mayor, speaker and chief whip for the Buffalo City Metro council to complete the troika.
The position of mayoral nominee, Xola Pakati, was settled before the local government elections.
This follows a marathon meeting between the provincial deployment committee and all regions across the province to finalise deployments in all ANC-run councils, which ended during the early hours of yesterday morning.
The Dispatch can reveal today that BCM will have its first female deputy mayor in Zoliswa Matana.
Outgoing mayor Alfred Mtsi will also be sworn in today as the new BCM council speaker.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the nomination of Mtsi as speaker, Matana as deputy mayor and Mzwandile Vaaibom to serve a second term as BCM chief whip.
“They have all been finalised,” said Mabuyane.
Insiders said the fights were far from over as the BCM’s deployment committee had been asked to shelve further discussions on deployment until after today’s council meeting.
Under scrutiny are the profiles of those who made it in the ANC’s proportional representative (PR) list after the DA secured 19 PR seats against the ANC’s 15.
The gloves were off between the SACP and the ANC Dr WB Rubusana’s deployment committee members last Thursday, as the SACP insisted that the Mandela funeral scandal accused – Sindiswa Gomba and Luleka Simon-Ndzele – make way for others on the PR list.
An SACP insider who attended the meeting said: “Our argument as the SACP is that, reshuffle this top 15 with experienced deployees.
“There is no doubt that Nomhiki Mgezi delivered when she was a mayoral executive committee member, but she did not make the cut.
“Our take was to remove the Mandela accused so that they can make way for experienced councillors who will be able to discuss issues in council.
“We need quality in the BCM council more than ever before.”
The Dispatch reported that at least three ward councillors may end up serving in the mayoral executive committee due to the inexperience of those topping the PR list.
But it is understood that the SACP argued against that, as it would affect those who want the the ward councillor’s services at community level.
Asked for an official comment on the SACP’s standing on deployment in BCM, SACP regional spokesman Ludwe Mnweba said the discussions were an internal process of the ANC and its allies, “so we are not at liberty to divulge the discussions of such a meeting”.
“However, as the SACP, we are gravely concerned with the factional exclusion of the alliance and sidelining of comrades with necessary skills and experience to take the institution forward,” Mnweba said.
“We believe that will compromise the delivery of services to the people of BCMM. We believe that this process should be characterised by cool heads, so that the product is that which can be of the best service to the people.”
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi confirmed today’s inaugural council meeting would be held in the City Hall at 11am.
Officials to be sworn in today despite tensions
The position of mayoral nominee, Xola Pakati, was settled before the local government elections.
This follows a marathon meeting between the provincial deployment committee and all regions across the province to finalise deployments in all ANC-run councils, which ended during the early hours of yesterday morning.
The Dispatch can reveal today that BCM will have its first female deputy mayor in Zoliswa Matana.
Outgoing mayor Alfred Mtsi will also be sworn in today as the new BCM council speaker.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the nomination of Mtsi as speaker, Matana as deputy mayor and Mzwandile Vaaibom to serve a second term as BCM chief whip.
“They have all been finalised,” said Mabuyane.
Insiders said the fights were far from over as the BCM’s deployment committee had been asked to shelve further discussions on deployment until after today’s council meeting.
Under scrutiny are the profiles of those who made it in the ANC’s proportional representative (PR) list after the DA secured 19 PR seats against the ANC’s 15.
The gloves were off between the SACP and the ANC Dr WB Rubusana’s deployment committee members last Thursday, as the SACP insisted that the Mandela funeral scandal accused – Sindiswa Gomba and Luleka Simon-Ndzele – make way for others on the PR list.
An SACP insider who attended the meeting said: “Our argument as the SACP is that, reshuffle this top 15 with experienced deployees.
“There is no doubt that Nomhiki Mgezi delivered when she was a mayoral executive committee member, but she did not make the cut.
“Our take was to remove the Mandela accused so that they can make way for experienced councillors who will be able to discuss issues in council.
“We need quality in the BCM council more than ever before.”
The Dispatch reported that at least three ward councillors may end up serving in the mayoral executive committee due to the inexperience of those topping the PR list.
But it is understood that the SACP argued against that, as it would affect those who want the the ward councillor’s services at community level.
Asked for an official comment on the SACP’s standing on deployment in BCM, SACP regional spokesman Ludwe Mnweba said the discussions were an internal process of the ANC and its allies, “so we are not at liberty to divulge the discussions of such a meeting”.
“However, as the SACP, we are gravely concerned with the factional exclusion of the alliance and sidelining of comrades with necessary skills and experience to take the institution forward,” Mnweba said.
“We believe that will compromise the delivery of services to the people of BCMM. We believe that this process should be characterised by cool heads, so that the product is that which can be of the best service to the people.”
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi confirmed today’s inaugural council meeting would be held in the City Hall at 11am.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos