New mayor thanks EFF for support

It was a long day in the Johannesburg City Hall where the new administration was elected after the 2016 local government elections, earlier this month.

The proceedings were however overshadowed by the collapse and death of an ANC councillor.

The council sitting was adjourned following her collapse late on Monday afternoon where after the ANC's Geoffrey Makhubo broke the news.

"She has been one of us since the 80s. She was a former member of Cosas and the Soweto Student Congress," he said. 

A moment of silence was observed and then the DA's Vasco da Gama was elected as Speaker.

ALSO READ: ANC councillor collapses, dies during JHB inaugural council meeting

At the end of the day, the DA's Herman Mashaba was elected as the new mayor of Johannesburg with the EFF and other smaller parties who also voted for Mashaba to take over from Parks Tau.

The official announcement was made at 21:00 on Monday night and shortly after, Mashaba thanked the EFF for their support during his first address as mayor.

He also paid tribute to the ANC councillor who died.

"I would like to pay our condolences to our fellow councillor who passed away this evening. In her memory I would suggest that I postpone my inaugural speech to the first sitting of council next month," Mashaba said.