Chris Pappas re-elected as uMngeni Mayor

Chris Pappas has been re-elected as uMngeni Local Municipality Mayor after the Democratic Alliance secured a 61% majority in the recent Local Government Elections

Chris Pappas has been re-elected as uMngeni Local Municipality mayor.

"Guests, before we proceed, I would like to confirm that we are duly electing Councillor Christopher Pappas as the incoming mayor, or standing mayor, of the Umngeni Local Municipality," said Speaker, Kate Janse van Rensburg.

Municipal managers have 14 days to convene their first council meetings.

The municipality is the first in KZN to hold its inaugural council meeting following the recent local government elections.

A total of 25 councillors have been sworn into office at Friday’s meeting at the Howick West Community Hall.

Pappas returns to the mayoral position after the Democratic Alliance earned a majority in the municipality in the municipal polls, receiving 61 per cent of the vote.

ALSO READ: Chris Pappas returns as uMngeni mayor after DA secures majority

The result gives the party 15 of the municipality's 25 council seats.

The party historically won the Midlands municipality outright in the local government elections five years ago.

During the last term, uMngeni attracted provincial and national attention for its approach to municipal governance, service delivery and financial management.

The new council will now be tasked with building on the work of the previous administration while addressing the needs and priorities of communities across the uMngeni area.

Meanwhile in eThekwini, City Manager, Musa Mbhele has urged incoming councillors to remain focused on development priorities.

The metro has a hung council following the elections, with no single party securing an outright majority.

Coalition negotiations between several political parties are underway.

As of Friday, the Electoral Commission (IEC) says it has received more than 1 000 objections from political parties following the elections.

IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya says the reasons for the complaints vary.

“One, alleged counting irregularities. Second, alleged mistakes in the capturing of results. Third, alleged non-inclusion of the number of special votes to the total number of valid votes for the voting district concerned. And fourth, alleged high number of spoilt ballots in voting districts.”

Speaking in Centurion on Friday afternoon, Moepya said that some have been dealt with.

Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here

We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)

Imagine getting to work, opening your laptop and discovering that your ema…

Recent rain has turned on the fishing along the KZN coast, with grunter, k…