The City of Cape Town (COCT) has elected a new speaker for the council’s chair on Friday, May 21. Felicity Purchase, the Mayoral committee member for transportation, was announced as the new speaker in a Democratic Alliance council.
Alderman Felicity Purchase today, during a full Special Council Meeting, was duly elected as the new Speaker of the City of Cape Town Council.
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— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) May 21, 2021
According to a statement by the COCT, Purchase said she is honoured to take on this new role and look forward to working with a new team who have much experience in ensuring the duties of the speaker are carried out with the strength of oversight expected from her office. “As a councillor who has served the residents of this city for 26 years, I understand what a critical role this is, and will at all times strive to carry out my duties with professionalism, excellence, and fairness, ” Purchase said.
Purchase indicated although many may think that the role of Speaker is simply to preside over council meetings and ensure that they are carried out in a respectful and orderly manner, the list of responsibilities is far more extensive.” I am committed to carrying forward the strong groundwork set by my predecessor, Dirk Smit, and will work to build on this strong foundation and by working with everyone to ensure that the City of Cape Town continues to be the best in South Africa, ” she added.
Meanwhile, Xolani Sotashe, ANC leader in the city council, described Purchase as a disaster in the transport portfolio indicating he nominated Tandie Makasi because she has the qualities to be in the post, Son reported.
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