Update
KNYSNA NEWS - In a surprising turn of events, the establishment of a majority within the Knysna Municipality's council has been placed on hold after the councillors were unable to elect a new speaker this morning.
The councillors convened at 09:00 today, 15 November, for the inaugural council meeting two weeks after the 2021 local government elections (LGE). The meeting saw the swearing in of all 21 of the councillors, but when it came to elect the new speaker, no agreement could be reached.
Two councillors were nominated for the position – Julie Lopes on behalf of the DA and Mncedisi Skosana on behalf of the ANC. Votes were cast via a secret ballot and this resulted in a 10-10 split between the two candidates. EFF councillor Neil Louw elected to abstain from voting as he has not yet received a mandate from his party regarding whom the EFF will enter into a coalition with.
This saw the meeting immediately adjourned as they cannot continue until a speaker has been appointed. The next meeting must be held within the next seven days.
READ MORE: Council inauguration today
The results of the secret ballot can lead one to assume that there are two coalitions that have formed – the DA along with KIM, and the ANC along with the PA and PBI. This leaves both coalitions with 10 seats a piece, meaning the EFF's vote will be the deciding factor.
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