In a colourful atmosphere reminiscent of the first day at school, dozens of new city councillors pitched up early at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday morning to start a new career in municipal politics.
Many councillors received the overnight news that Mayor Mxolisi Thomas Kaunda was selected by the ANC to retain the position in the R60 billion budgeted eThekwini Municipality until 2026. ANC provincial leader, Sihle Zikalala, convened a caucus in the main auditorium of party councillors, officials and members within the precinct of the iconic 2010 World Cup Moses Mabhida Stadium. The other parties also met behind closed doors for their respective caucuses. The inaugural council meeting, swearing-in ceremony and the election of the top three city officials was a baptism of fire for acting city manager, Musa Mbhele, who kept a firm and fair grip on the proceedings. A total of 222 councillors, representing almost a dozen political parties made up of the majority outfit – the ANC, followed by the IFP, DA and EFF, and a coterie of smaller parties, including the Cape-based Al-Jama-ah – took the oath of office in a dignified ceremony in front of the local magistrate while officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) made sure they didn’t miss any issues.
The multi-party groups put forward 111 councillors to serve the urban, peri-urban and rural wards across the constituencies of the 100km radius Greater Durban-eThekwini Region; and similarly 111 proportional representatives (PR) also took the oath – many excited at the opportunity of serving for the first time. By midday, all the councillors were sworn in – including controversial former ANC Councillor – Visvin Gopal Reddy of the newly-formed ADeC – who rose to object at the start of the election of the speaker when he called for a dress of conduct for all councillors – taking a swipe at the EFF Councillors dressed in the garb of domestic workers and worker overalls. The acting manager side-stepped the first issue for the newly-elected speaker. The EFF’s newcomer, Nelisiwe Mkhize of KwaMashu, was among the early arrivals, dressed in the red, traditional EFF maid’s uniform, apron and headscarf. “This is a wonderful opportunity to serve my community. I am a social worker and have not held a permanent job. There have always been budget problems wherever I found work at non-government agencies,” she said.
Her family was overwhelmingly excited at her political debut that one of them accidentally pushed the press stud on her official, security entry wristband. Julius Malema’s red brigade of 22 councillors made a grand entry, gathering and singing freedom songs after holding a caucus as to who the EFF would form a political pact with during the coalition arrangements to elect the three main posts – mayor, deputy mayor and the speaker. Controversially, the EFF delayed proceedings, with the acting city manager appealing to councillors to take their seats inside the big white tent. After the glitches of a power surge triggered by the air-conditioning, as party leaders, councillors, guests and media representatives battled the high temperature and humidity inside the packed marquee.
The singing of the African Union’s national anthem, followed by the SA national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, got the epoch-making ceremony underway. During the playing of the Afrikaans stances of the anthem, the EFF councillors sat down as photographers jostled to capture the snub. The EFF then fired the first salvo, in the first point of order, claiming that the presiding chief magistrate was only assisting White and Indian councillors, after the justice court official urged Black counterparts to undertake the verbal swearing-in in isiZulu. “We Black people know how to read,” said one councillor. The voting process for the Speaker took almost an hour after the nominations for the position of ANC, Thabani Nyawose, DA, Thabani Mthethwa, and Abantu Batho Congress (ABC), Philani Mavundla. Five councillors were barred by security from re-entering the marquee. A total of 217 councillors cast their ballots in a tedious process. The ANC jockeyed into the lead, winning the first key post when Nyawose clinched 103 of the 199-voting ballot to become the new Speaker. The DA’s Thabani Mthetwa secured 63 votes while newcomer for the rookies – Abantu Batho Congress (ABC), Philani Mavundla, picked up 33 votes.
The IEC confirmed the final ballot amidst a dispute from the floor that queried the final vote count. Nyawose was sworn in at 2.30pm – thereby clearing the way for the nomination and election of the mayor and deputy mayor. In his maiden speech, the Speaker told the big gathering: “Our people expect all councillors to present visionary leadership and remove all forms of gatekeeping in running the city, we are expected not to be greedy, arrogant and selfish, and the people expect us to lead anti-corruption, and be humble and we are expected to serve all citizens.” A relatively smooth-running meeting spilled into chaotic discourses from the floor over the counting – thereby delaying the election of the mayor and deputy mayor – with Chatsworth’s VG Reddy also weighing in vocally amidst disgruntled voices from other councillors with dozens raising the laminated cards to get the attention of the presiding officer, and with unruly behaviour threatening to scuttle the noisy proceedings. At the time of going to press, the mayor and deputy voting had not commenced. However, incumbent mayor Kaunda was expected to retain his position.
