Drama-filled swearing-in ceremonies for the Eastern Cape’s two metro mayors yesterday marked a new era of politics in the province and the country.
The ANC’s Xola Pakati took oath of office at Buffalo City Metro, while the DA’s Athol Trollip made history as the party’s first-ever mayor in the Nelson Mandela Metro.
The day clearly belonged to the DA – which through a coalition with the UDM, ACDP and COPE took over the reins at the bigger metro, forcing the ANC into opposition status.
At BCM, the election of Pakati was marred by demonstrations by members of both the ANC and the EFF who picketed outside the city hall where the inauguration of the new BCM council was taking place.
The ANC grouping among the picketers, accusing party leaders of leaving them out of the election nomination processes, chanted revolutionary slogans and brandished placards saying “Away with factionalists” and “Away with thieves”.
Inside the city hall a jovial mood prevailed – but it was not the same for the ANC, which for the longest time has enjoyed popular support and dominated the chamber seats.
Its diminished support in the August 3 election – when it polled under 60% for the first time since the first local government elections in 1996 – was glaring as it now has only 15 seats allocated to its proportional representation (PR) councillors, down from 25.
But yesterday’s voting patterns showed that the ANC was still in charge, as the new speaker, Alfred Mtsi, secured 62 votes against DA Jan Smit’s 26 votes. Mtsi thanked the people of Buffalo City for giving the ANC “another mandate to carry on from where it left off in the past term of office”.
Speaker Mtsi announced the members of the mayoral executive committee, which include Ncedo Kumbaca as head of engineering and infrastructure; Ayanda Myute as head of health and public safety; Xolani Witbooi as head of special programmes; and Phumla Nazo-Makathala as head of development planning.
BCM’s first woman deputy mayor, Zoliswa Matana, was also sworn in along with Mzwandile Vaaibom, who will serve a second term as BCM chief whip.
In Port Elizabeth, Trollip’s event was not without its own drama as the ANC objected to the constitution of the council meeting and staged a walkout before the new mayor was elected without any objections.
The DA’s Jonathan Lawack, the first to be nominated‚ was elected as speaker of the council.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and the EFF’s national chairman Dali Mpofu attended the proceedings.
Speaking shortly before being sworn in, Trollip vowed there would be no political interference in the municipality and officials would be allowed to do their work.
Trollip said he would present his 100-days plan at a special council meeting next Thursday‚ while his deputy, the UDM’s Mongameli Bobani, pronounced enthusiastically “there will be no Christmas” as there was work to be done.
Said Trollip: “Over the past year I have committed to delivering three things if elected as your mayor and now that this has come to pass‚ I must fulfil what I promised.
“I said we will stop corruption‚ create jobs and deliver better services. No elaborate, grandiose promises that have little prospect of ever coming to fruition.”
For the ANC, yesterday’s events were a bitter pill to swallow as it now looks set to govern only four of the country’s eight metros.
Another new DA mayor, Solly Msimang, is expected to be sworn in at Tshwane today – marking the end of the ANC’s control of the capital city. — Additional reporting by Tiso Black Star Group Digital
The day SA politics changed
The ANC’s Xola Pakati took oath of office at Buffalo City Metro, while the DA’s Athol Trollip made history as the party’s first-ever mayor in the Nelson Mandela Metro.
The day clearly belonged to the DA – which through a coalition with the UDM, ACDP and COPE took over the reins at the bigger metro, forcing the ANC into opposition status.
At BCM, the election of Pakati was marred by demonstrations by members of both the ANC and the EFF who picketed outside the city hall where the inauguration of the new BCM council was taking place.
The ANC grouping among the picketers, accusing party leaders of leaving them out of the election nomination processes, chanted revolutionary slogans and brandished placards saying “Away with factionalists” and “Away with thieves”.
Inside the city hall a jovial mood prevailed – but it was not the same for the ANC, which for the longest time has enjoyed popular support and dominated the chamber seats.
Its diminished support in the August 3 election – when it polled under 60% for the first time since the first local government elections in 1996 – was glaring as it now has only 15 seats allocated to its proportional representation (PR) councillors, down from 25.
But yesterday’s voting patterns showed that the ANC was still in charge, as the new speaker, Alfred Mtsi, secured 62 votes against DA Jan Smit’s 26 votes. Mtsi thanked the people of Buffalo City for giving the ANC “another mandate to carry on from where it left off in the past term of office”.
Speaker Mtsi announced the members of the mayoral executive committee, which include Ncedo Kumbaca as head of engineering and infrastructure; Ayanda Myute as head of health and public safety; Xolani Witbooi as head of special programmes; and Phumla Nazo-Makathala as head of development planning.
BCM’s first woman deputy mayor, Zoliswa Matana, was also sworn in along with Mzwandile Vaaibom, who will serve a second term as BCM chief whip.
In Port Elizabeth, Trollip’s event was not without its own drama as the ANC objected to the constitution of the council meeting and staged a walkout before the new mayor was elected without any objections.
The DA’s Jonathan Lawack, the first to be nominated‚ was elected as speaker of the council.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and the EFF’s national chairman Dali Mpofu attended the proceedings.
Speaking shortly before being sworn in, Trollip vowed there would be no political interference in the municipality and officials would be allowed to do their work.
Trollip said he would present his 100-days plan at a special council meeting next Thursday‚ while his deputy, the UDM’s Mongameli Bobani, pronounced enthusiastically “there will be no Christmas” as there was work to be done.
Said Trollip: “Over the past year I have committed to delivering three things if elected as your mayor and now that this has come to pass‚ I must fulfil what I promised.
“I said we will stop corruption‚ create jobs and deliver better services. No elaborate, grandiose promises that have little prospect of ever coming to fruition.”
For the ANC, yesterday’s events were a bitter pill to swallow as it now looks set to govern only four of the country’s eight metros.
Another new DA mayor, Solly Msimang, is expected to be sworn in at Tshwane today – marking the end of the ANC’s control of the capital city. — Additional reporting by Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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