ANC mayoral candidates: who’s in, who’s out in KZN

231014: uThungulu municipality mayor Thembeka Mchunu with her award for the best run municipality of the year, with husband Premier Senzo Mchunu, left, and and head of the premier’s office, Nhlanhla Ngidi.

231014: uThungulu municipality mayor Thembeka Mchunu with her award for the best run municipality of the year, with husband Premier Senzo Mchunu, left, and and head of the premier’s office, Nhlanhla Ngidi.

Published Jun 20, 2016

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Durban - The axe has fallen on seven KwaZulu-Natal mayors from “strategic” municipalities in the ruling ANC’s sweeping changes in mayoral candidates for its district municipalities and the eThekwini Metro.

The ANC national executive committee (NEC) made final decisions on the pool of names recommended by the regions and provinces for mayoral candidates.

The changes show that those dropped in the province will be replaced by loyalists that actively backed the election of the current provincial leadership led by ANC chairman, Sihle Zikalala.

One of the casualties is the controversial virginity test bursary mayor, Dudu Mazibuko of the uThukela District municipality, who serves on the provincial executive committee.

Only two district mayors will return to their current positions - Harry Gwala District mayor, Mluleki Ndobe, and his Dundee-based Mzinyathi counterpart, Lindokuhle Ngubane.

eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo, who steps down as councillor when the term ends in August, will be replaced by ANC regional chairwoman, Zandile Gumede.

Another axed mayor is uThungulu District mayor, Thembeka Mchunu, wife of former premier Senzo Mchunu, who is set to be replaced by her deputy Nonhle Mkhulisi and the region’s newly-elected chairwoman.

Mchunu’s axing was not a surprise as her detractors had long called for her removal since she was ousted as the ANC Musa Dladla region’s deputy regional secretary.

The election of her husband as premier, two years ago, had made things difficult for her, especially when some wanted her to focus only on duties in the premier’s spousal office.

Also axed is iLembe District mayor, Welcome Mdabe, who has served as the chairman of the provincial branch of the South African Local Government Association.

Mdabe is set to be replaced by former KwaDukuza mayor, Siduduzo Gumede.

Jeff Vilane, Mkuze-based uMkhanyakude District mayor will be replaced by Solomon Mkhombo.

Ladysmith-based uThukela’s mayor, Dudu Mazibuko, will step down in favour of Siphiwe Mazibuko.

ANC Lower South Coast regional chairman, Tolomane Mnyayiza, a known backer of Zikalala, will take over from incumbent Ugu District Municipality mayor, Ntombifikile Gumede from Port Shepstone.

uMsunduzi Municipality mayor, Chris Ndlela, who is linked to the communists, will be replaced by businessman and pastor, Themba Njilo of Pietermaritzburg.

The ANC is fielding Innocent Sipho Nkosi, its Abaqulusi regional chairman, as its mayoral candidate for Zululand District.

Political analyst, Thabani Khumalo, said Zandile Gumede’s appointment as mayoral candidate could have been about balancing popularity and governance in the metros.

“In eThekwini, Mangaung and Johannesburg, the decision was more political. Those mayoral candidates are popular on the ground. The threat from the opposition is not much,” Khumalo said.

He also said the sweeping changes in other KZN municipalities were a calculated risk by the Zikalala faction which started by axing the former premier and some MECs.

“They knew that they needed to unify the province going forward. Why take the risk (cabinet reshuffle)?” he asked.

Khumalo also said the changes were not surprising because they were part of pay-back for loyalists who pushed Zikalala as chairman and also secured his political future.

“Most of those who elevated him are now mayoral candidates. It was pay-back time. It is not surprising. The only surprise is the removal of Dudu Mazibuko,” he said.

Daily News

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