On Monday, 22 November, among other local municipal councils, J.B. Marks Local Municipality convened an inauguration council meeting where political office bearers were elected.

The convening of the municipal councils follows the recent local government elections held on 1 November 2021. Since then, political parties have been engaging each other in talks with the aim of entering into coalitions in three of the province’s municipalities where the African National Congress (ANC) could not secure an outright majority.

Following yesterday’s meeting, Cllr Messo Dassie was elected as the speaker of the municipality with 35 votes from 66 casted. Shortly after, Cllr Gaba Ka Qhele, was officially nominated and voted inside council chamber as the new Executive Mayor of J.B. Marks Local Municipality.

Ka Qhele received 35 votes out of 66 casted.

However, a motion to get rid of the election of a chief whip was submitted by the Freedom Front Plus. According to the political party, the municipality’s chief whip has added no value to the functioning of the council in the past and is regarded as a waste of tax money.

The ANC and the Patriotic Alliance voted against the motion and insisted that the election of a chief whip be continued. The DA supported the VF Plus’s movement.

The motion was rejected with 35 votes against 25 while EFF had decided not to vote. Nominated members pledged to serve the community with integrity.