ANC snatches back control of Mogale City from DA-led coalition

29th June 2017 By: News24Wire

ANC snatches back control of Mogale City from DA-led coalition

The African National Congress (ANC) has won back control of Mogale City, with Speaker Patrick Lipudi securing his position as mayor on Wednesday night.

Lipudi received 39 votes and the Democratic Alliance’s (DA's) Michael Holenstein, 36. Two votes were spoilt.

Lipudi was the third mayor to be elected since August.

Holenstein, the previous mayor, was ousted following a motion of no confidence earlier this month.

Democratic Alliance councillors underwent lie detector testing voluntarily to determine who had voted with the ANC to depose him.

DA councillor Brandon May did not go through with the test and instead sent his letter of resignation to Lipudi, the party said at the time.

A scheduled council meeting to elect a new mayor was cancelled last week after the DA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) were a no-show.

The Speaker was forced to close council, as there was no quorum.

ANC councillors at the time also requested that Lipudi charge the councillors who had not attended. While the DA did not pitch at council, EFF councillors stood outside the building and refused to go inside.