By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
DA councillor Vasco da Gama has been voted out as council speaker of City of Johannesburg, during a marathon meeting that started on Wednesday and ended in the early hours of Thursday.
During the vote, 136 councillors voted for the motion of no confidence in Da Gama, and 132 against.
He was accused of unlawfully appointing an acting council secretary and concealing the matter.
The motion of no confidence was brought by opposition political parties, including the African Independent Congress.
It was supported by the ANC and the EFF, who hold substantial numbers in the council. But the opposition block did not have enough numbers to remove Da Gama on their own.
The DA governs Johannesburg through coalition arrangements with political parties such as ActionSA, the ACDP, Cope, Patriotic Alliance, and Freedom Front Plus.
Voting happened on Thursday at 01:00 after a marathon council sitting, which saw several caucus breaks.
Opposition political parties celebrated as Da Gama read out the result of the vote of no confidence for his removal.
In a statement, Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse took aim at those in the coalition block who supported the motion.
Phalatse herself escaped a no-confidence motion after a request was dismissed on a technicality.
She said the business of running the council would continue despite Da Gama’s removal.