Johannesburg Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu Removed Through No-Confidence Motion

Johannesburg council members voted to remove Nobuhle Mthembu from her job as Speaker of Council. The Al-jama-ah Party brought the motion against her. They said she could not do her job well. The vote count showed 212 members wanted her out and 48 members wanted her to stay. Council chairperson Adold Marema announced the results.

Mthembu won the speaker job last August when she had support from two major parties. The African National Congress and Economic Freedom Fighters backed her election at that time. She belongs to ActionSA party. Her party made a deal to work with the ANC after local elections happened. This partnership helped her win the speaker position.

ActionSA chose not to help Mayor Dada Morero during his no-confidence vote on Wednesday. The mayor survived his challenge. The ANC did not return the favor when Mthemby faced her vote. Party politics changed how members voted on each motion. The ANC left Mthembu without support when she needed it most.

Council members will pick a new speaker during their Thursday meeting. The position became empty after the successful vote. Mthembu must leave her role immediately. Someone else will take over her duties. The council needs a new leader to run future meetings.