To date, Endumeni is probably the only Council in the country that still does not have a Deputy Mayor.  This is because the DA could not decide which one of its Councillors, Dr Isri Bedassi or Anthon Raubenheimer, will be selected to serve on the three-Councillor executive committee.

It was heard yesterday that the DA had chosen Dr Bedassi to serve on exco over Mr Raubenheimer who has over 15 years Council experience in Endumeni and was previously Deputy Mayor.

Dr Bedassi won ward 7 for the DA and was previously an Umzinyathi councillor for the party.  At 3pm, the Council will vote for a Deputy Mayor and indications are that it will be Dr Bedassi.

However, the ANC – the party that won the majority of votes in Endumeni – is not happy the way the posts have been voted for without a properly constituted exco.  Former Speaker, SB Mdluli, on Tuesday said the ANC will go to the highest court in the land to have declared null and void last week’s election of the Mayor and Speaker.

“We cannot vote against the rules of the country and legislation governing local government,” he told Council.  His objections have been waved away and it is now uncertain if the Courts or national government will intervene in Endumeni.  A rocky start indeed…