Ekurhuleni Mayor Ngodwana removed from office in no-confidence vote

JOHANNESBURG - Ekurhuleni mayor and African Independent Congress (AIC) member, Sivuyile Ngodwana, has been ousted exactly a year since he was elected to the position.

Forty-seven councillors voted for his removal from the mayoral office while only 32 backed him.

The African National Congress (ANC), which joined forces with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to elect him into power last year, abstained from the vote, alongside the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The ANC was in high spirits in council on Thursday afternoon, as its long wish of removing Ngodwana from the city’s top office finally came to pass.

The party, which elected Ngodwana to the position, was unhappy with his leadership, even accusing him of allowing financial misconduct to thrive.

In the last few months, Ngodwana survived three attempts to boot him from the mayoral office.

Meanwhile, council Speaker, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, is also set to face a motion of no confidence on Thursday afternoon. 

The DA wants the Speaker removed from the position as it believes she’s protecting her fellow EFF councillors.