By Doreen Mokgolo
The newly elected mayor of Ekurhuleni, the ANC’s Nkosidiphile Xhakaza, has vowed to work with multiple parties in the council to bring stability to the troubled metro.
He was elected unopposed in a process that lasted ten minutes on Thursday.
His election follows the removal of mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana of the African Independent Congress, who was voted out in a motion of no confidence last month.
In his speech, Xhakaza said he would focus on impactful service delivery during his tenure.
“What is critical is to build from the solid foundation and maturity that was shown in council towards this election. It should be possible going forward to deal with other issues, including service delivery,” he said.
As part of his plans, Xhakaza will look at building a team that will comprehensively examine issues of the regional economy, finances and financial sustainability.
Xhakaza, who is the regional task team convener of the ANC, has a long track record in serving the metro variously as the MMC for finance, water and sanitation, and most recently corporate shared services.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the ANC’s coalition with other parties still needs to be nursed to fruition.
“The negotiations took two weeks; at some point the negotiations collapsed but we reconvened with a package that was accepted by all 14 political parties,” he said.
“The ball is now in the hands of political parties to finalise the establishment of the mayoral committee that will represent everyone in council.”
Lesufi said Xhakaza must lead the council and not any faction of the municipality.
“We must learn from our own mistakes and those committed in council. Hopeful stability will reign and [result in] a municipality that renders services to the people,” he said.
EFF caucus leader Nkululeko Dunga said that they had declined the motion tabled by the ANC in the recent past to take over as the majority and that the council did not oppose the election of the new mayor.
“Politics are not stagnant … the material conditions have changed. The council has applied its mind and we have an ANC councillor who has emerged as mayor unopposed. We are hopeful for a constitutional and stable government,” he said.
Pictured above: Nkosidiphile Xhakaza.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
