VEREENIGING– Following its Special Council Meeting April 2 at the Mayor’s Parlour, in Vereeniging, the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) elected Mamokete Veronica Radebe as the new Speaker of Council.

The election followed the declaration of a vacancy in the Office of the Speaker by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) following what was said to be a reshuffling by Executive Mayor, Lerato Maloka.

Those nominated were from the PAC and the ANC

The candidates nominated for the position were Radebe of the African National Congress (ANC) and Mbuyiselo Kantso of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

Radebe was elected with 28 votes, while Kantso received 21 votes.

 Radebe replaces Moipone Modikeng.

A reshuffling was recently annnounced by the MM

Sedibeng Ster reported earlier last month that while the ANC in Sedibeng had vehemently denied being involved in the reshuffling at the SDM, the SDM Municipal Manager (MM), Motsumi Mathe, announced a reshuffling that he said was undertaken by the ANC in its quest for regional intervention to strengthen governance capacity at the municipality.

The meeting was convened in accordance with Section 29(1A) and Section 36(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998, which legislates as follows:

• The municipal manager of the municipality or if the municipal manager is not available a person designated by the MEC for local government in the province, presides over the election of a speaker.

The meeting was presided over by Kiba Kekana, who was designated by the Office of the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). Meanwhile, the SDM said that Radebe’s election restores leadership within Council and ensures continuity in oversight, governance, and the functioning of legislative processes within the municipality.

Radebe is a former MMC

Prior to her election, Radebe served as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Clean Energy.

“Ahead of the sitting, Kekana met with Chief Whips of political parties represented in Council to ensure clarity on the facilitation process,” the SDM said.

“I’m very happy about the cooperation that I received from the political parties that are part of the council,” said Kekana.