NEW SPEAKER MATHUNYANE PROMISES FAIR PLAY AT STEVE TSHWETE MUNICIPALITY
BY MONTSHO MATLALA
Middelburg:newly elected Speaker of the Steve Tshwete Municipality Council, Thato Mathunyane has promised to discharge his responsibilities without fear or favour during council proceedings and in any task within his mandate.
Mathunyane, the leader of Middleburg and Hendrina Residents Front’s (MHRF) in Mpumalanga was voted to the position on Tuesday, at a Council sitting in Middelburg.
He raked in 36 votes to become the presiding officer in council against ANC’s Marumo Sekgwele who got 22.
The position of the Speaker became vacant after Thomas Mpye of the ANC resigned during a special council meeting on August 16.
In an interview with Timeless News, Mathunyane said he has a big task ahead but was “equally big” for any responsibility to ensure the smooth running of Council proceedings.
“The Speaker of Council serves as an impartial chairperson of Council meetings and while doing so, is the custodian of Council Resolutions by being principled and firm. The Speaker is also responsible for public participation,” he said.
With his MHRF having only 7 seats in Council, Mathunyane secured victory with the help of EFF that has 9 councillors and possibly also from one vote of an independent.
Mathunyane, former manager of the community radio station, Greater Middleburg FM said about the votes, “As the hung municipality you will not run it without other parties cooperating. However the MHRF does not have any coalition agreement with anyone.
“MHR has 7 seats in Council and we are currently working hard to increase in the next elections because Council is about numbers.”
DA could not allow any of its 19 councillors to support him for the Speaker’s position because MHRF is not part of Moonshot Pact which is the brainchild of DA to unite opposition parties under a single coalition shutting doors against the ANC and the EFF.FFplus has 3 seats in the Steve Tshwete Municipality
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