IFP and some EFF supporters danced and went wild when new Endumeni Mayor, S Richard Mbatha, emerged from the Municipal building following a marathon inauguration meeting today that lasted over six hours.

See gallery of celebration photos

IFP and EFF supporters danced metres away from ANC supporters who greeted outgoing Mayor, Thulani Mahaye, when he emerged from the building.  As the DA could not decide which one of their two Councillors, Dr Isri Bedassi or long-serving Anthon Raubenheimer, would be elected to the three-Council executive committee (the other two include Thulani Mahaye and Mayor Mbatha), the meeting deadlocked when it was time to elect Deputy Mayor.

Outgoing Speaker, the ANC, SB Mdluli, objected saying as the meeting had already elected a Speaker and Mayor which should they not elect a Deputy Mayor. In the end, newly elected Speaker, the IFP’s Bongiwe Mbatha-Makhathini, ruled that the meeting cannot continue until the DA decides which of their Councillors will be exco.

The ANC was not impressed but in the end, the Councillors emerged from the building as the IFP clad supporters greeted the 29-year-old Mayor like a celebrity as he was picked up and carried on their shoulders.

Watch the IFP/EFF dance with ANC supporters just metres away: