“I AM truly humbled and grateful and thank these great leaders standing next to me. These are the minority parties that joined hands and said unless we win, it is not a win for the City of Johannesburg,” says the new CoJ Speaker Colleen Makhubele.
She was elected after outnumbering the DA’s councillor, Alex Christians by 141 votes on Wednesday. The seat was left vacant after DA’s Vasco Da Gama was ousted during a motion of no confidence vote.
The Congress of the People’s member received backing from the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance and other small parties, in the council, that had tight security, including bomb sweeping squad.
Makhuebele said she was humbled by the election, when addressing a large contingent of media shortly afterwards.
Backed by PA’s Kenny Kunene, they all agreed in unison that the Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse was next.
“We’re now headed to table a motion of no confidence in the Mayor. She will be out soon,” they confirmed.
In accepting the new Speaker’s nomination, the Mayor said: ”I appeal to all councillors, regardless of political affiliation, to abide by the council agenda and to conduct themselves in a manner that shows the residents of Joburg that they come first.
Theatrics and other political posturing for headlines do not serve the residents of Joburg. The residents deserve the best from those that they elected,” Phalatse said.
Is this a sign of instability in the council by the Multi -Party- it remains to be seen?
As long as delivery services won’t be interrupted by all this shenanigans.
Image ( Rise up. The new CoJ Speaker Collen Makhubela).
