The sitting to vote the new mayor, speaker and chief whip in the Modimolle-Mookgophong hung council in Limpopo was halted following a disruption by African National Congress (ANC) councillors.

They disrupted the council sitting disputing one of the ballot papers and also demanding that the acting municipal manager be removed from the process. This after the voting of the speaker ended in a tie for the second time, resulting in the council being unable to elect a new mayor.

The ANC councillors demanded that acting municipal manager Dr Melusi Mhlanga must step-aside saying he is not neutral.

“We would like to put it on record that MM, we don’t have confidence in you to proceed with this processes, there was a proposal that you step-down you also consult the HOD with immediate effect then you move from the whole process you from that chair, I think you should take that into consideration,” an ANC councillor said.

When adjourning the council sitting, Mhlanga said the ballot in question was valid. Mhlanga says he will approach the office of the MEC for local government for guidance.

“The ballot in question is a valid ballot as long as there is a disruption of sort or conduct that deemed as disruptive, we have to adjourn council. So whatever meeting comes in future, is not a new meeting, is a continuation of this session. We have not closed the meeting, we adjourned. Unfortunately at this stage, I don’t want to confirm any date. There are still a few consultations that must still happen. I think I will be in touch with the office of the MEC for local government in the province,” Mhlanga explains.

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