The DA's Chris Hattingh alleges that the council failed to follow the prescribed act which guides them on how to elect a new mayor. He says what should have been a simple process was complicated by the ANC, which he says chose to undermine the process, by subverting the law.

Hattingh says the communication which was received from the office of the speaker, Kgosiemang Mogoemang, indicated that the election of the new mayor would be conducted through a secret ballot, but this was not the case. 

The ANC in the council is yet to comment on OFM News' questions.

“The election of the executive mayor of JB Marks after the criminally accused, Kgotso Khumalo, was removed from the office can only be described as an unlawful act driven by the desperation by the deeply dived and factional ANC,” he adds.

The ANC and two independent councillors voted for Mataboge by show of hands. This led to the DA, EFF and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) walking out of the council proceedings. 

Hattingh adds that the Municipal Structures Act stipulates in Schedule 3 that in the instance where there is more than one mayoral candidate, that the voting procedure will take place by secret ballot. “The Democratic Alliance (DA) in JB Marks remained resolute in that the vote should take place in line with the procedure outlined by the law,” he further adds.

 OFM News