The City of Ekurhuleni council elected John Senona of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) as the new speaker of council during an extraordinary council sitting last Thursday.
This development has already sparked political debate among councillors.
Senona secured 94 votes, defeating Nkululeko Dunga of the EFF, who received 33 votes in the ballot. The position became vacant after former speaker Dora Mlambo stepped down from the role to take up a new position as MMC for Economic Infrastructure and Development in the metro.
Senona’s election comes at a time when the council has been grappling with shifting coalition dynamics and political tensions, which have increasingly affected the functioning of council meetings and the progress of municipal business.
The DA has raised concerns about the implications of Senona’s appointment, suggesting the move forms part of a broader strategy by the ANC to strengthen its position in the metro ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
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In a comment following the vote, the DA said Senona’s election was “no surprise”, arguing that the ANC had sought to consolidate its influence in council after moving Mlambo from the speaker’s chair into the mayoral committee.
The party alleged that the ANC, which has experienced electoral decline and strained relations with the EFF in council, had turned to the ATM to secure support.
“The ANC needed to find a pliable councillor to do its bidding as it moved its one-time speaker, Mlambo, to the executive,” said Brandon Pretorius, DA City of Ekurhuleni caucus leader.
“The DA also expressed concern about the impartiality of the new speaker, stating that it does not believe Senona will act independently in presiding over council proceedings. “We do not believe Senona will act impartially and will instead do as he is instructed by the ANC,” the DA added.
The role of speaker is central to maintaining order in council sittings, ensuring that debates are conducted fairly and that council business proceeds according to municipal rules. Senona said he plans to restore stability in the council.
Newly elected speaker of council, John Senona.
“I want to assure the residents of Ekurhuleni that, going forward, there will be stability in council. We know that the city has been receiving a lot of attention and scrutiny, but we are now focused on moving forward,” said Senona.
He said he will be addressing the petitions that residents have submitted. “I want to assure the public that the petitions received will become a priority for the Speaker’s office. Petitions are one of the key ways residents communicate with council, and we will ensure they are properly addressed and make them our priority,” said the newly elected speaker.
Political parties say the test for Senona will be whether he can demonstrate neutrality and restore stability in the council, which has in recent months seen disruptions and intense political contestation among parties.
Despite the criticism, Senona’s election signals the continuing influence of smaller parties in coalition politics in Ekurhuleni, where no single party holds an outright majority in the council.
The coming council sitting is expected to reveal how the new speaker will navigate the highly contested political environment and whether he will be able to steer council meetings in a manner that ensures effective governance and service delivery.
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