By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ActionSA in Gauteng will field Nobuhle Mthembu, the leader of its Johannesburg caucus, as the next speaker ahead of the special council meeting on Wednesday.
Mthembu replaces AIC’s Margaret Arnolds, who vacated the post during the special council sitting which elected ANC’s Dada Morero as the city mayor.
Morero was elected as the city’s new mayor last Friday, succeeding Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda.
Action SA supported the election of Morero on the condition it would be able to take over the speakership.
As part of the new deal ActionSA will get the speaker position as well as five committee chairpersons.
The Speaker position is central in holding the executive to account through various means, such as investigations and the tabling of reports to council.
There are a number of crucial investigations that have not been concluded by the speaker’s office.
ActionSA’s Funzi Ngubeni says Mthembu has all the qualities that make her an ideal candidate for the speaker role.
“We believe that Cllr Mthembu’s unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency, and maximising efficiency, along with her proven leadership skills, dedication to public service, and ability to drive meaningful change, will undoubtedly contribute to achieving these goals and improving the state of governance and service in the City of Johannesburg.”
Meanwhile, Arnolds has now been appointed as the MMC for Finance, while former mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has been handed the community development portfolio.