News24 | Doctor in the house: ANC back in the winning seat with Ekurhuleni mayoral position

Following a protracted battle for the mayoral position in Ekurhunleni, South Africa's most populous municipality, the African National Congress (ANC) finally regained control on August 31, 2022, with Dr. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza being elected as the new mayor. The election came after a tumultuous 14-day period during which the ANC and its coalition partners, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), engaged in a power struggle over the leadership of the municipality.

The drama unfolded on August 17, when the ANC's preferred candidate, Mzwandile Masina, was ousted as Ekurhuleni mayor following a motion of no confidence tabled by the EFF. Masina, who had been in office since 2016, was accused of various forms of corruption and mismanagement during his tenure. The EFF, which holds the second-largest share of seats in the Ekurhuleni council after the ANC, used its numbers to oust Masina and install its own candidate, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, as acting mayor.

However, the ANC was not ready to concede defeat and challenged the legality of Masina's removal. The party argued that the motion of no confidence was not properly constituted and that the EFF had violated procedural rules during the vote. The ANC also accused the EFF of engaging in political grandstanding and using the motion as an opportunity to score political points.

The standoff between the two parties led to a stalemate, with neither side willing to back down. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the ANC and EFF held nearly equal numbers of seats in the council, making it difficult for either side to form a majority.

In an effort to break the deadlock, the Speaker of the Ekurhuleni council, Mmc Thembi Nkosi-Masuku, called for mediation talks between the two parties. The negotiations, which were facilitated by the national ANC leadership and the office of the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, dragged on for several days.

Eventually, on August 30, an agreement was reached between the ANC and the EFF. Under the terms of the deal, the ANC would regain control of the mayoral position, while the EFF would be granted several key portfolio positions in the executive committee. In return, the ANC agreed to drop its legal challenge against Masina's removal and to support the EFF's candidate for speaker of the council.

The following day, August 31, the Ekurhuleni council convened for a special sitting to adopt a new mayor. Dr. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, a seasoned ANC politician and medical doctor, was nominated and elected unopposed as the new mayor of Ekurhuleni. The election took place in just five minutes, bringing an end to the long-drawn-out power struggle between the two parties.

Dr. Xhakaza, who has previously served as the MEC for Health in Gauteng province and as the ANC's regional secretary in Ekurhuleni, is expected to lead the municipality for the next five years. His tenure will be closely watched by residents and political observers alike, as Ekurhuleni grapples with numerous challenges, including service delivery, corruption, and financial mismanagement.

In conclusion, the election of Dr. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza as the new mayor of Ekurhuleni marked the end of a protracted power struggle between the ANC and the EFF. The drama unfolded over a 14-day period and involved several rounds of negotiations and mediation talks before an agreement was reached. Dr. Xhakaza's election was a significant moment for the ANC, which had lost control of the municipality just weeks earlier. His tenure will be crucial in addressing the numerous challenges facing Ekurhuleni and restoring public trust in the local government.