Newcastle Municipality new council members sworn in

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Newcastle Local Municipality held a special inaugural council meeting to officially swear-in its new council members at a ceremony on the 24th of August 2016 at the Richview Hall. The ceremony sworn in 67 Councillors. These councillors consist of 33 PR councillors and 34 Ward councillors.

The meeting was chaired by the Municipal Manager; Mr Errol Mswane who announced the new council members. The new council swore under oath in front of the Magistrate; Sandy Hill and all in attendee, to be faithful, obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other law of the Republic and the Bylaws of the Newcastle Municipal Council, and undertake to hold office as councillor with honour and dignity and conscientiously perform the functions of the office.

The meeting elected Cllr Makhosini Nkosi, unopposed, as the Newcastle Mayor, Cllr Duduzile Sibiya, unopposed, as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jabulile Khumalo received 41 votes to IFP’s Cllr Sam Mlangeni’s 25 as Speaker and Cllr Nomusa Grace Mnguni, unopposed, as Chief Whip.

Before her acceptance speech, Speaker; Cllr Jabulile Khumalo asked all in attendee to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the passing of Cllr Thembi Mbongo of Ward 6 and acknowledged all dignitaries in attendee.

“We are now elected as honourable councillors, to serve and to be good mirrors of our community and also empower ourselves to the tasks at hand. In doing everything, we also need to be responsible”, gratified Khumalo.

The Speaker also announced the Municipality’s Executive Committee Members which includes the Mayor, Cllr Makhosini Nkosi, Deputy Mayor; Cllr Duduzile Sibiya, Cllr Reuben Molelekoa, Cllr Nkosinathi Zwane, Cllr Matthew Shunmugam, Cllr Rachel Mdluli, Cllr Vuyiswa Bam, Cllr Elizabeth Cronje and Cllr Shadrack Thwala.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Honourable Mayor, Cllr Makhosini Nkosi humbly accepted his election to be the Mayor of Newcastle. “In this regard, allow me to most sincerely express my profile gratitude to the Provincial and Regional leadership of the African National Congress, the ANC caucus in this city and all members of the ANC for the confidence they have expressed in nominating me to this responsible position of the city Mayor”, he alluded.

“As the Mayor I am committed to work as part of and with the Executive Committee, the Municipal Council and the Administration and everyone else who is committed to working towards the realisation of the ideas of our people”, concluded the Mayor.

The Mayor also promised to work with the private sectors to curb the challenge of unemployment within the youth of Newcastle.