Johannesburg — ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu was selected as the new speaker of the Johannesburg Municipal Council after an agreement between the ActionSA, African National Congress (ANC) and its partners.
Mthembu had received the majority of votes after she was challenged by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Nonhlanhla Sifumba. Mthembu’s rise was due to the ANC, who vouched for her to be in the position, The Citizen reported.
The previous agreement came after ActionSA helped the ANC secure a mayoral position following Kabelo Gwamanda’s resignation. ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba said the party would use its position in the speaker’s office to hold the executive to council.
“The individual in the speaker’s position is responsible for holding the mayor and his committee accountable for service delivery and other related issues, as well as issues such as discipline. It’s one of the most powerful positions in council,” he said.
JUST IN:
The newly elected Speaker of Council is Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu#JoburgCouncil #JoburgSpeaker #JoburgLIVE ^NJ pic.twitter.com/NWfud5TxpN
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) August 21, 2024
According to EWN, Mthembu was appointed following the resignation of former council speaker, Margaret Arnolds, who had withdrawn from the position when she was appointed to the city’s mayoral committee.
Mashaba, who had previously said he would not work with the ANC, believes the time for political stability is now and expressed confidence in the relationship with the ANC in the metro.
ActionSA has now set its sights on the speaker position in the Tshwane council.
ACTIONSA’S NOBUHLE MTHEMBU ELECTED AS CITY OF JOBURG SPEAKER https://t.co/3QzNSRKhQC
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 21, 2024
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Picture: X/@HermanMashaba
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
