Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Dirk Smit retained his position as Speaker of the City of Cape Town council following an election in council chambers on Thursday morning.

City Manager Achmat Ebrahim oversaw the election process during the first meeting of council following last week’s local government elections.

The African National Congress (ANC) nominated councillor Patrick Mngxunyeni, but after getting only 57 votes – the exact amount of ANC councillors in council – to the DA nominees’s 157 votes, Smit took to the speaker’s chair.

“I still see my role as being one that provides stability to this council. As such, I undertake to act as an impartial chair for this council and serve the interests of democracy and not any political party or agenda,” Smit told councillors.

He then chaired the meeting which was expected to continue with the election of mayor. Patricia de Lille is largely expected to hold on to the mayoral chain.

The council meeting followed the DA’s outright majority win in the City of Cape Town.