Ekurhuleni – Ousted Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell has been re-elected in a dramatic turn of events.
Just a fortnight after an African National Congress (ANC) inspired co-confidence vote ousted her, Campbell was re-elected Tuesday to lead the embattled City of Ekurhuleni.
“Alderman Tania Campbell was duly elected Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni after the unsuccessful bid of the ANC and its coalition partners to return to seat of power,” the City of Ekurhuleni said.
The Multi-party coalition comprising the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, the Freedom Front Plus, Inkatha Freedom Party, and African Christian Democratic Party said in a joint statement that they “walked into Council united to defeat the efforts of the ANC”.
Squabbling between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) handed the mayoral chains back to the DA’s Campbell when they failed to agree on a candidate.
“Alderman Tania Campbell defeated the ANCs Jongizizwe Dlabathi 124 to 99, a formidable victory for the multi-party coalition government to continue with the project of fixing Ekurhuleni from years of neglect, mismanagement and maladministration of the ANC since governing the city,” said the statement.
“Under the leadership of Mayor Tania Campbell, the multiparty coalition government in the City of Ekurhuleni has over the last 10 months made significant progress in delivering on its commitments of creating a well-run administration, stopping corruption, and delivering quality services on a Back to Basic campaign.
“The deliberate interventions by the new government have been so effective that since taking office, Mayor Campbell and her team have achieved what the ANC failed to do in over 20 years.”
The statement said the ANCs motion of no confidence was nothing but a ploy to regain control of the people of Ekurhulenis hard-earned money and reverse the great work of the multiparty coalition administration.
“The ANCs priority was never the people; they have always been focused on looting and positions,” said the statement.
“It is also interesting to note reports that the ANC and EFF were divided on the vote of a preferred candidate.
“The EFF demanded that the ANC support its candidate, whilst the ANC was of the view that they should field its own candidate.
“Talks collapsed between the two parties, The EFF subsequently withdraw its own candidate opting to support the multiparty coalition instead.”
The multi-party coalition government congratulated the newly elected mayor and said it remains committed to her administration.
The City of Ekurhuleni said it appreciates residents for their patience “owing to these developments” and further iterated that the City, and its administration remains intact to respond to their needs.
