WATCH | Violence, chaos erupts in Ekurhuleni Council as EFF and ...

Tensions were laid bare at the Ekurhuleni Council meeting on Thursday during the amendments to a motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana.

A stand-off between the ANC and the EFF resulted in a war of words after the EFF requested a 30-minute caucus break during recommendations to amend the conditions of the motion. 

The ANC proposed an amendment to the motion of no confidence that the party with the most seats can put forward a mayoral candidate.

READ | 'Unholy marriage': ANCYL calls on ANC to support motion of no confidence in Ekurhuleni mayor

The DA proposed that they dissolve council and re-elect the council during the national election on 29 May.

The EFF then asked for a 30-minute caucus break – which ended in the two parties screaming and shouting at each other.

Eventually the EFF were granted a caucus break.

When the Ekurhuleni Council reconvened, the EFF tried to address Speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga - also an EFF member – but they were not recognised.

Tshivhenga instead allowed the Chief Whip, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, to speak. 

The incensed EFF members then stormed to the ANC councillor and began pushing him around. 

In an instant, the ANC and EFF began pushing and shoving and then bottles of water became airborne missiles.

The mayor's notes ended up being thrown into the air and members of the EFF climbed onto desks. 

Tshivhenga walked out of council as members of the council security entered.

Bouncers also entered the room, but it was only when Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department members entered and physically removed the EFF, that calm was restored. 

The remaining council has discussed the legality of continuing with the meeting. 

At 19:35 they adjourned to speak to legal counsel in order to see if they could appoint an acting speaker to continue with the motion of no confidence in the mayor.

Meanwhile, the council gave the mayor an opportunity to resign; he did not.

For the motion to go ahead, either the ANC or the EFF will need to cross the floor, or abstain from the vote.

The motion was proposed by ActionSA. Talk in the corridor is that the ANC is planning to vote in favour of the motion.