DA fields Nonhlanhla Sifumba to contest Joburg council Speaker position

JOHANNESBURG - With the Johannesburg council set to elect a new Speaker today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Joburg has fielded Nonhlanhla Sifumba to contest the vacant position.

Sifumba is going against ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu, who Eyewitness News understands enjoys the support of the African National Congress (ANC)-Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) coalition block.

The election of a council speaker follows the resignation of the African Independent Congress (AIC)’s Margaret Arnolds, who was appointed to the city’s mayoral committee last week.

DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party’s candidate for the position had a proven track record of outstanding leadership.

"The position of Speaker in Council is one that comes with enormous responsibility, in a chamber like the City of Johannesburg’s. The role must be filled by someone with the requisite experience. Our candidate is an experienced third-term councillor, former member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development and former chair of Community Development in the City of Johannesburg."