Cllr Ndanele Guybon Mdzinwa was born in 1961 in KwaBhaca. He matriculated in Rode Senior Secondary School in 1989. He then furthered his education and obtained his Batchelor of Education in Education Management. He also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from UNITRA . He is currently busy with his Masters of Education in Education Management with UNISA.

He worked as an Educator, Principal, Education Specialist and Circuit Manager for the Department of Education From 1983 to 2016. He has been active in politics since unbanning period. In 2006 to 2011 he was deployed as a PR Councillor at Umzimvubu Local Municipality and served in various committees. He served as Chief Whip of the Council in 2016 to 2021 and Portfolio Head for Citizen & Community Services Committee in 2021 to 2024. He is currently the Speaker of Umzimvubu Local Municipality Council.

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

The Local Government Municipal Structures Acts Provides that each Municipal Council must have a chairperson who is called the Speaker. The speaker is elected by the council from among the councillors at the first sitting of the council after the local government elections, or when necessary to fill the vacancy. The Municipal Manager of the Municipality or if the municipal manager is not available, a person designated by the MEC for local government in the province presides over the election of a Speaker.

The Speaker acts as a Chairperson at the Council Meetings and ensures the compliance of the council code of conduct rules and orders. He also ensures the proper functioning of the legislative side of the council, and it is required to be impartial. The Speaker also ensures community participation in legislative initiatives and should communicate with the public on the performance of the Council.

The Speaker is a full-time Councillor. The functions of the Speaker are set out in Section 37 of the Municipal Structures Act as follows:

· Presides at meetings of the Council.

· Performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated to the speaker by the Council.

· Must ensure that the council meets at least quarterly.

· Must maintain order during meetings.

· Must ensure compliance in the council and council committees with the Code of Conduct for Councillors as set out in Schedule 1 of the Municipal Systems Act and

· Must ensure that council meetings are conducted in accordance with the rules and orders of the council.

· Chair meetings of the Petitions Committee as and when there is a petition.

In addition to the statutory functions listed the office of the speaker is also responsible for the functions listed hereunder:

· Encouraging participation of communities and community organisations in the decision-making process of the municipality

· Developing mechanisms to ensure and monitor participation of communities in the decision-making process.

· Ensuring that communities and community organizations are educated on their rights and responsibilities to participate and give input to the municipality’s policy development processes as well as planning and budget processes.

· Render administrative support to the Petitions Committee.