By Thapelo Molefe
The African Independent Congress (AIC) Margaret Arnolds has been elected as the new speaker of the Johannesburg City Council.
On Thursday, Arnolds secured 137 votes, decisively defeating the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Alex Christians who received 68 votes and the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Yongama Zigebe, who got five.
Her election follows the dramatic removal of ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu last week through a motion of no confidence filed by AI Jama-ah and supported by the African National Congress (ANC), DA and Economic Freedom Fighters.
Arnolds, who has been serving as the city’s finance MMC, returns to the speaker role she held briefly in 2023. Her nomination was endorsed by the ANC and its coalition partners.
Speaking shortly before the council sitting, ANC regional coordinator Sasabona Manganye defended the decision to back Arnolds.
“We have engaged on the issue of the speaker and the candidate for the speaker and
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