FORMER Chris Hani District Municipality executive mayor Mxolisi Koyo was elected speaker while former Intsika Yethu mayor Kholiswa Vimbayo was elected executive mayor during the inaugural council meeting of the district authority at the Sandringham Sports Club on Tuesday.
The DA nominated Robert Venske as mayoral candidate after the councillors were sworn in by Komani chief magistrate Victor Nqumse.
The vote was managed through a secret ballot chaired by municipal manager Moppo Mene.
Koyo received 31 votes of the 42 and Venske 11.The district authority has 42 councillors and seven traditional leaders who do not have voting status in council.
The position of executive mayor was not contested.
Former Lukhanji corporate services political head Bongiwe van Heerden was also elected unopposed for the position of chief whip.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa attended the meeting.
Vimbayo said she was humbled to have been elected executive mayor.
She said the ANC election manifesto committed councillors to improve access to municipal services with the fight against fraud and corruption to be intensified.
“We will create jobs for young people as the unemployment levels are high. The scourge of HIV/Aids is high and we will fight it. The current housing backlog is 67%.”
She said the municipality had to realise the importance of tourism opportunities, adding she would like to work with other councillors and not concentrate on political differences.
Koyo said the majority of the people of Chris Hani had given a mandate to the ANC.
“There are no coalitions and political arrangements here. Having been given this responsibility as the speaker, I know the people who voted on August 3 don’t want confusion and pandemonium.”
Vimbayo announced the mayoral committee with Siyabulela Zangqa as the head of engineering, ANC Youth League regional chairman Sibongile Mbotshane as political head for integrated planning and economic development, and Madodonke Papiyane as the portfolio head for finance.
Mthethunzima Jack was appointed to lead the corporate services portfolio, Noncedo September Capa to head community services and Nonzukiso Matiwane as the political head of the special programmes unit.
“The success or failure of this district depends on these people,” Vimbayo said after announcing the mayoral committee.
Parties represented in council are the ANC, AIC, UDM, DA and the EFF. Cope did not make it into the new council.
