Tshwane, Ekurhuleni postpone council sittings as coalition talks continue

17th November 2021 By: News24Wire

 Tshwane, Ekurhuleni postpone council sittings as coalition talks continue

Following a request from political parties, the City of Tshwane's first council sitting will not take place on Thursday. 

The council will sit on 23 November - the deadline day for councils to form coalition governments.

Political parties had indicated earlier this week that they would request to postpone the sitting.

No political party won an outright majority to govern the capital city. The lack of a majority winner led to intense coalition talks among political parties to form a coalition government.

In a meeting held on Wednesday morning, Tshwane's city manager, Mmaseabata Mutlaneng, ceded to calls from political parties.

"The 1 November 2021 local government elections did not produce the outright winner to govern Tshwane. Consequently, parties are frantically hard at work to cobble together a coalition government," the City explained on Wednesday afternoon.

The agenda for next week's meeting will see Mutlaneng oversee the council sitting, which will witness the swearing-in of councillors. The election of speaker and mayor is on the agenda.

Tshwane was governed through a shaky Democratic Alliance-led coalition government since 2016. The African National Congress took over briefly when it was placed under administration.

The Gauteng government's decision to place it under administration was ruled unlawful by the High Court and the Constitutional Court.

On Tuesday, DA leader John Steenhuisen said a coalition government was possible for the DA, Freedom Front Plus, Congress of the People and the African Christian Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, the City of Ekurhuleni will not hold its first council meeting on Thursday, as previously announced. The council sitting will now take place on Monday. 

The metro has not secured a majority for any political party, and its future is also dependent on coalition negotiations.

The council sitting will see the election of the speaker, mayor and the swearing-in of councillors.