Proceedings got underway on Tuesday morning to swear in the newly-elected eThekwini municipality councillors — but the ANC’s dominance means the intense contestations over key positions seen in Johannesburg and Tshwane are unlikely to be repeated in the coastal city.
The combined forces of the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters ousted the African National Congress in the two Gauteng metros‚ however in Durban the ANC has an overwhelming majority of 126 seats in the 220-seat council. This means that its preference for mayor‚ deputy mayor‚ speaker and other key committee chair positions are likely to be carried without much opposition.
Zandile Gumede is likely to be elected mayor‚ with long-standing executive committee member Fawzia Peer her deputy.
Peer’s election is seen as a strategic move aimed at calming hostilities between rival party factions — she was known to be in the camp that sided with outgoing mayor James Nxumalo‚ who lost out to Gumede in an often dirty battle for chairmanship of the ANC’s eThekwini caucus.
Her expected appointment is also seen as a move to maintain relations with the Indian community in Durban after speaker Logie Naidoo was not retained by the party in any capacity.
The swearing in was presided over by Durban’s chief magistrate‚ Edmund Ngubane. Gumede and Peer were among the first batch of 12 councillors to take their oath of office. ANC eThekwini deputy chair‚ Legoa Mapena‚ was also sworn in ahead of his likely election into the powerful speaker’s position.
While Nxumalo was at Tuesday’s sitting‚ he will not be coming back to the council in any capacity. However‚ there will be an Nxumalo sitting as a councillor and his brother‚ Malombo‚ was elected as an independent candidate.
Naidoo was also at the sitting‚ but former deputy mayor Nomvuso Shabalala and controversial housing committee chair Nigel Gumede — who are believed to have fallen out of favour within the regions structures — appeared to be absent.
The members that will make up the powerful decision-making executive committee‚ which will likely be compromised of the ANC‚ the official opposition DA and other opposition parties the IFP and EFF‚ will also be elected.
The meeting is expected to run until late on Tuesday afternoon.
New Durban councillors sworn in
Proceedings got underway on Tuesday morning to swear in the newly-elected eThekwini municipality councillors — but the ANC’s dominance means the intense contestations over key positions seen in Johannesburg and Tshwane are unlikely to be repeated in the coastal city.
The combined forces of the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters ousted the African National Congress in the two Gauteng metros‚ however in Durban the ANC has an overwhelming majority of 126 seats in the 220-seat council. This means that its preference for mayor‚ deputy mayor‚ speaker and other key committee chair positions are likely to be carried without much opposition.
Zandile Gumede is likely to be elected mayor‚ with long-standing executive committee member Fawzia Peer her deputy.
Peer’s election is seen as a strategic move aimed at calming hostilities between rival party factions — she was known to be in the camp that sided with outgoing mayor James Nxumalo‚ who lost out to Gumede in an often dirty battle for chairmanship of the ANC’s eThekwini caucus.
Her expected appointment is also seen as a move to maintain relations with the Indian community in Durban after speaker Logie Naidoo was not retained by the party in any capacity.
The swearing in was presided over by Durban’s chief magistrate‚ Edmund Ngubane. Gumede and Peer were among the first batch of 12 councillors to take their oath of office. ANC eThekwini deputy chair‚ Legoa Mapena‚ was also sworn in ahead of his likely election into the powerful speaker’s position.
While Nxumalo was at Tuesday’s sitting‚ he will not be coming back to the council in any capacity. However‚ there will be an Nxumalo sitting as a councillor and his brother‚ Malombo‚ was elected as an independent candidate.
Naidoo was also at the sitting‚ but former deputy mayor Nomvuso Shabalala and controversial housing committee chair Nigel Gumede — who are believed to have fallen out of favour within the regions structures — appeared to be absent.
The members that will make up the powerful decision-making executive committee‚ which will likely be compromised of the ANC‚ the official opposition DA and other opposition parties the IFP and EFF‚ will also be elected.
The meeting is expected to run until late on Tuesday afternoon.
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