By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Oscar Lubabalo Mabuyane was re-elected as the Premier of the Eastern Cape during the first sitting of the seventh administration in Bhisho.
Helen Sauls-August also returned as the Speaker of the Legislature following her re-election.
The acting judge president of the Eastern Cape, judge Zamani Hlangulele, presided over the swearing in of Members of the Provincial Legislature on Friday morning.
Sauls-August said ANC MPL, Loyiso Magqashela, was appointed the Chief Whip of the Legislature, while Yusuf Cassim of the DA was named the Chief Whip of the official opposition.
“What they have bestowed on us is not just positions of power but a call to service. If any member of this House feels he or she cannot commit to the work ahead wholeheartedly must do the honourable thing and resign so that someone with passion can be sworn in.
“I say this because the people of the Eastern Cape look to us to be their voices, their advocates, their champions for a better life,” Mabuyane said in a brief speech after being elected.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape won 62.47% of the provincial vote, the DA got 14.62% and the EFF was the third biggest party in the province with 10.07% support of those who voted.
Meanwhile the Afican National Congress (ANC) Mandla Ndlovu was on Friday elected as the new premier of Mpumalanga during a sitting of the provincial legislature.
Ndlovu succeeds Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who took office in 2018. He previously served as MEC for Public Works, Roads, and Transport in the province.
During his acceptance speech, Ndlovu said he was grateful for the opportunity given to him.
“I am committed to upholding and building upon the legacy that the previous premiers have left for us.
“We are continuing with the journey which was started by Premier Matthews Phosa up until Premier Refilwe. Premier, you have done your part.”
Elsewhere Dr Zamani Saul has been re-elected as the Premier of the Northern Cape at the first sitting of the Provincial Legislature.
Saul first took office as the Premier of the province in 2019.
He said that he was still the premier and that he would ensure stability for the seventh administration.
ANC obtained 49.34% of votes in the May 29 election compared with 57.5% in 2019, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s tally.
The Northern Cape, the first of nine provinces to complete the vote count, has the smallest population of registered voters at about 656,000. Provincial turnout in this election fell to 61% from 64% in 2019.