eThekwini Mayor uMhlanga beach

eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda. Photo: Facebook/eThekwini Municipality

eThekwini Mayor survives no confidence motion – what’s next?

The ANC has managed to retain control of the eThekwini metro after its mayor Mxolisi Kaunda survived a no confidence motion

eThekwini Mayor uMhlanga beach

eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda. Photo: Facebook/eThekwini Municipality

Theb African National Congress (ANC) has managed to retain control of the eThekwini metro after its mayor Mxolisi Kaunda survived a motion of no confidence vote in the council just recently. The motion was tabled by councillor Imtiyaz Syed of the Active Citizens Coalition and the sitting tookn place at  the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Friday, 3 February 2023.

The ANC victory was made possible by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who voted with the party and helped it secure the 126 votes against the motion. There are a total of 215 seats in the council.

“There are 209 councilors who were present when we opened the process of voting. Those who were in support of the motion is 81. Those who are against is 126. No, no I will explain … it’s 126. Those who abstained is one. The reason why it’s 126 is because in the list we minus the vote of the mayor. Therefore, the motion is rejected. It won’t be carried through,” said Council Speaker Thabani Nyawose when announcing the results.

WILL KAUNDA FACE ANOTHER MOTION?

If there’s one thing about South African politics – it is never really over, even after the fat lady sings. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties in the metro are not happy with eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and want him booted from his post. The recent vote saw the NFP’s Zandile Myeni being voted as Mxolisi’s deputy after the ABC’s Philani Mavundla was ousted, which the DA isn’t too pleased about.

The DA says it had voted against Mavundla in December to prevent an EFF-ANC coalition government.

“The EFF has once again proven that they do not care about residents, but rather assuming power and lining their own pockets. The DA maintains that a vote for a smaller party is a vote for the ANC, which is what we have witnessed today in eThekwini. These parties have shown a total disregard of the plight of residents that continue to be led by corrupt ANC leaders and officials, depriving residents of basic services,” said the DA’s Thabani Mthetwa.

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