Amid disruptions Tshwane's councillors are sworn in

19 August 2016 - 16:42 By Kingdom Mabuza‚ Buchule Raba And Penwell Dlamini

The process of swearing in of councillors for the City of Tshwane has begun. In suits‚ overalls‚ dresses and aprons‚ the councillors lined up after a dramatic morning in the country's capital. Tshwane city manager Jason Ngobeni‚ whose future is uncertain‚ is presiding over council until the councillors vote for a speaker. Earlier Ngobeni read out cushy benefits that await the new mayor. It is now an open secrete that DA candidate Solly Msimanga will become the mayor. Ngobeni told the council that‚ among others‚ the mayor would be escorted by metro police‚ stay in the guarded state house‚ and decide on the package his executive would enjoy.The new mayor will meet the Tshwane Metro Police Department after the council sitting to discuss the benefits he will accord to members of the mayoral committee. His benefits kick in immediately after being sworn in.Thoko Didiza‚ the ANC's mayoral candidate‚ was no where to be seen.Earlier‚ the ANC's internal fight spilled into the council meeting‚ momentarily disrupted proceedings.Ngobeni’s attempt to get the ANC to deal with its own affairs was met with resistance. The party demanded that council should stop to allow the party to caucus for 10 minutes.At the centre of dispute is an ANC councillor who went to court against the party and won.Ngobeni initially told council that the councillor won against his party and not the City of Tshwane and thus should not be disturb council proceedings. The ANC said the judgment was with the Electoral Commission (IEC) and had to be discussed before voting could take place. Apparently the issue is that two councillors were present‚ representing the same ward.Council proceedings were then halted to allow the ANC and the IEC to sort the matter out...

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