Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nonkululeko Njilo
Published on 2024-04-11 16:54:46
Since the 2021 local government elections, the ANC has been actively working to regain control of Gauteng’s three metropolitan areas – Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. One of the strategies employed to achieve this goal was to form an alliance with the EFF, although the relationship between the two parties has not always been smooth. Despite initial breakdowns in their alliance in Ekurhuleni, it seems that they have managed to reconcile their differences.
On Thursday, 11 April 2024, an extraordinary council meeting took place where the ANC successfully took back the mayoral chain, leading to Nkosindiphile Xhakaza being elected unopposed as the new executive mayor. Xhakaza becomes the fourth mayor to be elected in Ekurhuleni in less than four years, following the removal of his predecessor, Sivuyile Ngodwana from the African Independent Congress, through a motion of no confidence.
Xhakaza, who previously served as the group corporate and shared services MMC in Ngodwana’s administration, and as the finance and economic development MMC during the tenure of ANC’s Mzwandile Masina, now steps into the role of executive mayor. The council meeting faced delays, eventually convening three hours past the scheduled time, due in part to discussions between the council speaker from the EFF, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, and the Gauteng MEC for cooperative governance, Mzi Khumalo, regarding the potential dissolution of the council if a new mayor was not elected.
In response to the delays, Khumalo issued a warning for the council to elect a new executive mayor by a specified date, emphasizing the importance of cooperative governance in the municipality. The ANC’s successful election of Xhakaza as the new mayor was made possible through consultations and negotiations with other political parties in the municipality, including the DA, EFF, and ActionSA.
The ANC’s Gauteng chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi, expressed gratitude to the EFF and all participating parties for collectively agreeing on the need for stability in the municipality. ActionSA initially intended to nominate its caucus leader, Siyanda Makhubo, for mayor but later withdrew due to insufficient support, particularly from the DA. Makhubo emphasized the importance of accountability and competent leadership to address the city’s financial challenges and deliver quality services.
The municipality of Ekurhuleni has faced setbacks in recent years, including a downgrade in credit ratings and audit concerns related to irregular expenditure and weak internal mechanisms. Moody’s recent downgrade of the metro’s ratings further underscored the urgency for stability and effective governance.
The ANC expressed confidence in Xhakaza’s ability to bring the much-needed stability to Ekurhuleni. As the newly elected executive mayor, Xhakaza’s leadership will be crucial in addressing the municipality’s challenges and working towards sustainable progress.
Overall, the recent developments in Ekurhuleni highlight the complex dynamics of local government politics and the importance of collaboration among political parties to ensure effective governance and service delivery for residents.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
