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The ANC has secured its first victory of the day in Ekurhuleni as new speaker Patricia Kumalo was elected with 117 votes.
Kumalo’s votes were enough to secure her seat and outnumbered DA candidate Shadow Shabangu’s 106 votes.
One vote was a spoilt ballot.
The results were announced just before 2.30pm this afternoon after which council secretary Manana Moloi handed over to Kumalo.
Kumalo welcomed all new parties to the council and told them the Ekurhuleni council was a home for all with one common goal – to serve the poor and the communities they were elected to serve.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance and African Independent Congress were all new to the council.
The voting process was not without its drama. Prior to the start of voting, EFF councillors complained about the identity of one ANC councillor.
The issue was the initials of the councillor, whose last name is Nkosi.
Arguments ensued about whether his initials were stated as BL or PL, but were sorted out by Moloi.
EFF and DA councillors argued that, prior to voting, councillors should present identification. They said this would help with ensuring that those present and voting were identifiable.
It was concluded by the Independent Electoral Commission provincial officer in attendance that this was not a requirement in the municipal rule book and electoral law was not the law governing the voting process at council level.
EFF councillors felt this was unfair because the secrecy of ballots was decided using electoral law.
The complaint was subsequently dismissed by Moloi, who ruled that councillors did not need to have ID. Instead, as suggested by the IEC, councillors were called to vote one at a time so they could be identified by all.
The EFF asked for a 10-minute caucus after which voting for executive mayor and chief whip would commence.
