DURBAN - ANC supporters in KZN’s South Coast Region who wanted Sikhumbuzo “Zero” Mqadi to be elected mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality have described his election as a victory for democracy, after he was recently sworn in.
Since last year’s election, Ray Nkonyeni was the only municipality without a mayor and deputy after branches and the ANC’s national executive committee did not agree on who should be mayor.
One of the councillors, who had been pushing for Mqadi, described his election as a victory for democracy, saying the decision would revive the party’s long-held view that power lies in the branches. The councillor further said they were happy that the top leadership realised that there was not going to be stability if it insisted on imposing people.
“It’s a victory for democracy. The majority of us wanted Mqadi to take over so his election is a victory for branches under this municipality. We told the leaders that they should listen to us and appreciate that we kept all municipalities here in the South Coast unlike in the north where the party lost many to the IFP,” said the councillor.
The deputy mayor’s position was given to Sbu Shange and the chief whip’s position went to Teddy Thinta.
In the executive committee, the ANC received six seats followed by the DA with two, while the IFP and EFF got one each.
ANC provincial spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela said after consultation with branches the party agreed Mqadi to be appointed mayor.
Previously at the inaugural meeting on November 23, the municipality only managed to elect a speaker but it had to elect the mayor and deputy; councillors who wanted Mqadi rebelled and the meeting collapsed.
The NEC had recommended Sbu Shange but branches and councillors had rebelled against the decision, vowing to rather hand over the power to the opposition than allowing Shange to be imposed on them. The party top leadership backed down and Mqadi was appointed.
In his acceptance speech Mqadi tabled a 15-point plan the municipality would focus on and apologised to residents for the delay in electing office-bearers.
Mqadi was a school principal and had been working with Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Ravi Pillay since 2012. He once led the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union as regional chairperson.
Meanwhile, the ANC and ABC coalition failed to unseat the IFP in Umvoti Local Municipality in Greytown on Thursday. The two parties had hoped to take power back from the IFP through a motion of no confidence. In the 27-seat council, the ANC has 10 seats followed by the IFP with nine and seven for the ABC. The DA got one seat.
The IFP speaker and councillors saved mayor Gabriel Malembe by walking out, leaving the opposition councillors with no one to continue with the motion after the municipal manager was said to have also refused to take over.
Daily News