Africa-Press – South-Africa. The EFF has scored two mayoral committee positions in Nelson Mandela Bay, marking the party’s first entrance into governance in the troubled Eastern Cape metro.
EFF councillor Khaya Ngqisha was appointed the MMC for infrastructure and engineering, and Zanele Sikawuti bagged the electricity and energy portfolio.
Newly elected Mayor Gary van Niekerk announced the two as mayoral committee members on Tuesday.
The EFF muscled its way into co-governance after it partnered with the ANC in several hung municipalities across the country.
The party holds similar powerful mayoral committee positions in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Van Niekerk was elected on Friday after he joined forces with the ANC and EFF to oust DA councillor and former mayor Retief Odendaal.
Ngqisha had brought a motion of no confidence in Odendaal and his deputy, Mkhuseli Jack.
Van Niekerk beat the former mayor by 64 votes, ending the DA’s eight months of multiparty governance in the metro.
The new mayor was initially expected to announce a mayoral committee on Monday, but rumours were rife a fierce contestation was underway for positions, delaying the announcement.
Van Niekerk is part of the three-year-old Northern Alliance (NA) party. His fellow party member, Stag Mitchell, was appointed the MMC for safety and security.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) scored two mayoral committee positions, with Lindoor Shuling being appointed MMC for economic development, tourism, and agriculture, while Bradley Murray was appointed MMC for roads and transport.
When Van Niekerk was elected as mayor on Friday, PA president Gayton McKenzie was in the audience and the mayor acknowledged him in his maiden speech.
Bassie Kama from the PAC was made MMC for sports recreation and agriculture and Thsonono Buyeye from the AIC will be responsible for public health, which he headed in the previous administration.
The ANC has three positions, with Yolisa Pali heading cooperate services, while Thembinkosi Mafana was appointed MMC for human settlements, and Itumeleng Ranyele will be head of the budget.
The ANC also holds the speaker position, with former mayor Eugene Johnson taking on that role, while fellow party member Babalwa Lubishe was elected as deputy mayor.
Van Niekerk said his job as mayor was to deliver services to residents.
The ANC and DA have 48 seats in the Nelson Mandela Bay council, making it difficult for a long-term government to emerge.
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