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After the dramatic events of the City of Johannesburg council meeting yesterday, all eyes turned to Ekurhuleni today.
The City of Ekurhuleni council meeting got off to a smooth start with all 224 councillors present and sworn in. As soon as the nominations for speaker were received however, the EFF expressed concerns that rules for voting were not decided on upon consultation with the parties.
Council Secretary Manana Moloi explained that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was the governing body on electoral processes and according to their rules the secret ballot was not debatable.
This came after councillors in Joburg halted proceedings because EFF councillors were showing their ballots.
EFF councillors argued it was a personal choice to show one’s ballot.
After much debate, it was decided that the laws dictated the ballots remain secret until they were put in the ballot box.
ANC councillor Robert Mashego argued that councillors had just taken an oath to uphold the law and had to do just that regarding the ballot.
“This oath says the election shall be a secret ballot. It does not say we have a choice.”
Masilo ruled that the ballots would remain secret.
The session was on a 20-minute break after which voting would determine whether the new speaker of the council would be ANC candidate Patricia Kumalo or DA candidate Shadow Shabangu.
