Durban - Forty-three: that’s the number of promises newly-elected eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede made to the city’s 3.5 million residents in her maiden speech on Tuesday.
Gumede took over the reins in the Durban City Hall from James Nxumalo on Tuesday. She is now in charge of eThekwini’s R42-billion budget, and, in a 20-minute speech, committed herself to serving the city’s residents.
However, she might have lost a few minutes of sleep on Tuesday night pondering which two ANC councillors did not support her election. The ANC has 126 councillors in eThekwini but she received 124 votes in a secret ballot.
The DA’s mayoral candidate, Zwakele Mncwango, got 87 votes and three ballots were spoiled.
Veteran ANC councillor Fawzia Peer (also appointed Community and Emergency Services chairwoman) was elected deputy mayor, while councillors Lekgoa Mapena and Neli Nyanisa were elected council speaker and chief whip, respectively.
ANC councillors were also appointed as committee heads: Barbara Fontein (Governance), Sipho Kaunda (Economic Development and Planning) Mondli Mthembu (Housing and Infrastructure). Richard Hlophe and Thabani will head the Ethics and Municipal Public ÂAccounts committees, respectively.
“Our task, as the newly-elected council, is to consolidate and accelerate what has been achieved,” Gumede said.
“We must reach for new heights and raise the bar through interventions that will change our city for the betterment of our people.
“In other words, our streets must be clean, roads must be without potholes, waste must be collected weekly, our street lamps must work, households and businesses must have regular power supply, issues of health and safety must be addressed, and water and sanitation are also on our list of priorities. The headache of RDP housing allocation must also be addressed promptly.”
Gumede had tough words for transgressors - be they councillors, staff or businesses - saying they would face the full might of the law.
“We will continue to drive a corruption-free city,” she said.
She also said the city’s “errant and unreliable” transport system would be tackled.
Transforming the “township economy” is high on Gumede’s agenda, with her declaring this was important if the city wanted to empower small businesses in previously disadvantaged areas.
She added that a speed train between the King Shaka International Airport, the Bridge City mall and the inner city was also on the cards.
The Mercury