JOBURG has a new Speaker
Margaret Arnolds, from the African Independent Congress was elected unopposed.
Arnolds has served as the chairperson of the council’s Section 77 committee, a position she will have to vacate after her elevation to the council speaker post.
She served as a Johannesburg councillor for three terms and was vital in helping the ANC when it needed to co-govern the metro in the previous council administration that ended in 2021.
Arnolds also served as a mayoral committee member during that term but was not elected for a similar position when the ANC formed a coalition agreement with the EFF earlier this year.
City manager Floyd Brink immediately announced her as the speaker after she accepted her nomination from the floor.
The DA caucus did not attend Monday’s council sitting where Arnolds was elected.
The coalition agreement between the EFF, ANC, Patriotic Alliance and about nine other small political parties dictates that minority parties hold the speaker position, chairpersonship of committees and the mayoral position, hence the position of Mayor that is Kabelo Gwamanda from Al Jama-Ah.
Arnolds’ replaces the outspoken Colleen Makhubela, who was fired by her party Congress of the People (COPE), last week.
Makhubele was accused of contravening Cope’s constitution by allying with a newly launched coalition pact the South African Rainbow Alliance.
Image (New Joburg Speaker Margaret Arnolds).
