Minutes after the DA’s Athol Trollip was elected the new executive mayor however, ANC members rose and walked out the hall, amidst loud cheering.

Former ANC mayor Danny Jordaan was not present.

Earlier, when the ANC councillors evantually made their way into the hall, acting municipal manager Johann Mettler gave them the opportunity to take the oath. While no councillor stood to take the oath in English, they stood as one to take the oath and affirmation in isiXhosa.

Finally the call for nomination for a speaker was put to the floor, causing an ANC councillor to take to the floor to call for a point of order. Mettler refused to acknowledge the councillor, saying points of order need to be raised with the new speaker. One nomination was received, and DA councillor Jonathan Lewack was elected unopposed. Lewack immediately started cracking the whip, calling the audience to order and waving around the rule book to warn them about their behaviour. He refused to acknowledge ANC councillor who stood up to object.Lewack challenged him to quote the rules that allowed him to speak, to which the councillor had no reply.

“This house is governed by order. If you cannot quote the rule, you must take a seat. This house is governed by order. If you cannot quote the rule, you must take a seat,” Lewack pointed to Section 28, and said if he determined that the councillors’ behaviour was disruptive, he could have the councillor removed.

News24