The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Tania Campbell has been re-elected as City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality mayor.
The City of Ekurhuleni held its extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday after the collapse of a previous sitting.
The metro had been without a leader for over two weeks following Campbell’s removal. It was through an ANC-sponsored motion of no-confidence on 26 October.
The ANC succeeded in ousting Campbell after the EFF abstained from the vote. However, on Tuesday, the EFF voted alongside the DA-led coalition government. Reinstaining Campbell in her position.
EKURHULENI METROPOLITAN MAYOR VICTORY
Campbell received 124 out of 224 votes to return to the helm, while Dlabathi only managed to secure 99 of the votes cast.
Talks between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) failed. With the ANC’s provincial executive committee in Gauteng rejecting a proposal this morning for the election of an EFF mayor in the city.
The EFF has 31 votes in the council and the DA, along with coalition partners, has 93.
Tuesday’s proceedings saw Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gauteng chairperson and caucus leader in Ekurhuleni, Nkululeko Dunga, withdrawing from the mayoral race.
Dunga had accepted his party’s nomination for the position. But made a sudden U-turn after the ANC nominated its deputy regional chairperson, Jongizizwe Dlabathi. Campbell was fielded as the DA’s candidate yet again.
NOT OBSESSED WITH POWER AS TANIA CAMPBELL GET RE-ELECTED
Explaining why he withdrew, Dunga said the EFF was not obsessed with power.
Following the victory, Campbell said: “It does show you there is confidence in me, but also it shows that the majority of council actually wants work to happen and wants stability within the city.”
Last week, ANC Ekurhuleni chair, Mzwandile Masina also withdrew as a mayoral candidate, saying he had already served his five-year term.
Masina was the mayor of Ekurhuleni for one term under a multiparty coalition government from 2016 to 2021.
The ANC in Ekurhuleni said it has no regrets for filing a motion of no confidence against Campbell. Despite eventually failing to remove her from her position.
ANC deputy chairperson Dlabatha said they failed to reach a consensus with parties at the last minute. He said the parties who voted to re-elect Campbell as the mayor have let down the people of Ekurhuleni.
