By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Dora Mlambo of the African National Congress (ANC) has been elected as the new Speaker of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Council.
The position of the speaker became vacant after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Nthabiseng Tshivhenga resigned with immediate effect as a councillor and the speaker.
Mlambo received support from the ANC and minority parties, attaining 91 votes, with the DA’s candidate Lucky Dinake in second place at 69 votes, and the EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga received 31 votes.
The ANC has 86 seats, while the DA is the second biggest party with 65 councillors. The EFF has 31 seats while ActionSA has 15.
Mlambo is no stranger to the metropolitan municipality, having previously served as the mayoral committee member for community services.
ANC regional deputy secretary, Moipone Mhlongo, says the party is pleased to have finally secured the speaker’s seat.
“We take this as a vote of confidence in the ANC from councillors of Ekurhuleni, where the DA and EFF fielded their candidates, but the ANC emerged victorious.
Fullview understands the ANC is also set to make changes to the mayor’s Nkosindiphile Xhakaza Mayoral Committee, which includes EFF and AIC councillors.
Meanwhile the dark cloud of corruption again descended on the CoE, placing Xhakaza at the centre of allegations linking him to two high-profile criminal cases.
Xhakaza denied involvement in the shootings, describing the claims as reckless, defamatory and politically motivated.
He reiterated his confidence in the SAPS, calling for justice to be served “without fear, favour or prejudice”.
The mayor added that he had consistently escalated incidents of violence against councillors and CoE officials to senior government and law enforcement.
Despite his defence, pressure continues to mount as political parties, civil society organisations and residents demand transparency, the release of toilet report, and swift progress in the investigations.