Office of the Chief Whip
About Office of the Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is responsible for, amongst others, maintaining cohesiveness amongst all political parties represented in Council, facilitating the resolution of disputes between political parties and allocating councillors to Legislature Committees in consultation with the whips of other political parties.
Working together with the Leader of Government Business is also the responsibility of the Chief Whip, as is sitting in the Programming Committee to make allowance for the presentation of political views at Council.
Ald Pelisa Nkunjana’s Profile – Whip of Council
Alderman Pelisa Nkunjana was elected Whip of Council in the City of Ekurhuleni at a special council meeting on 13 September 2024.
The Daveyton-born Alderman Nkunjana is the first female public representative to occupy the seat of the Whip of Council in the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality since the amalgamation of the municipal town councils to a metropolitan in 2000.
The Whip is no stranger to local government as she brings extensive experience, strategic leadership, and critical thinking skills as a policy development professional in the public sector.
She has served on several portfolios, including being a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Stormwater, Cooperate and Shared Services, and Transport Planning.
Ald Nkunjana played a critical role in driving the separation of powers model when she was the MMC for Cooperate and Shared Services. This model is now used as a benchmark by other municipalities in South Africa.
As one of the current longest serving councillors in Council, she’s not new in the Legislature department having served as chairperson in the section 79 committees, inclusive of Gender, Children, Youth and People with Disability Committee (GCYD), Human Settlements, and Infrastructure. Before being elected as the Whip of Council, she was the section 79 committee chairperson for Finance.
Ald Nkunjana holds several qualifications including two master’s degrees – International Relations and Diplomacy from Cumbria in the United Kingdom and Public Management from Regenesys Business School.
Her talents include being an author, having written Right to be a Woman. This book advocates for the rights of women in Africa and supports global efforts towards achieving gender equality and women empowerment.
