Washington Ntozini has now officially been elected as the mayor following a secret ballot vote and won with 31 votes.

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Regional Secretary in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Buti Shuping, tells OFM News that the ANC contested the elections with two candidates including Ntozini and former embattled mayor, Maetu Kgaile, who was ousted earlier this month in a dramatic fashion when she lost with a margin of 44-0.

He says the EFF and the DA did not put any candidate forward but the DA voted for the Freedom Front Plus’ (FF+) candidate, Michal Groenewald, who received 17 votes.

Shuping says as the EFF in the city they welcome Ntozini and hopes that he will deliver quality service delivery for the benefit of the local residents.

We are happy with Ntozini [we just hope that he will deliver services to the people of the] municipality so we can change [some of the issues facing] the municipality. You can check [the level of service delivery] because our municipality is still facing challenges of poor service delivery,” Shuping says.

Earlier the Provincial Task Team co-ordinator, Kenetswe Mosenogi, told OFM News that the party stop at nothing to ensure that the ANC retains its mayoral candidate.

Mosenogi, at the time, would not confirm whether the party still wanted Kgaile – who was criticised by opposition parties and residents for failing to deliver basic services or would go for someone else within the party.

Shortly after the removal of Kgaile, all 15 ANC councillors who voted with the opposition parties were summoned to the party structures in Mahikeng to come and explain their decision to vote Kgaile out.

Earlier political parties, including the DA, EFF and Freedom Front Plus (FF+), failed to elect a mayor after chaos ensued in the House and the DA stormed out.

OFM News