DURBAN - The new uMhlathuze Municipality’s leadership was elected unopposed on Tuesday, after the ANC staged a walk out.
The newly-elected Mayor is Dr Nkonzoyakhe Godshero Donda from the IFP, Deputy Mayor is Nkonzo Nkululeko Ngubane from the EFF and the Speaker is Tobias Gumede from the IFP.
Municipal spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said councillors who are to serve on the executive committee were also elected from the DA, IFP and the EFF.
“The process of completing the executive council will be finalised in the following meeting including the municipal Whip. This follows the walk out staged by the ANC,” Ncalane said.
Mayor Donda stressed that the outcome of the elections demanded service delivery.
“The people of this city have suffered since 2016. In this term of office, we have to put aside all party politics and focus on service delivery to all 34 wards,” Donda said.
He thanked his party and all other political parties for agreeing to work together in the city of uMhlathuze.
Donda took over from former mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo.
Umhlathuze has recently been touted as the number one achiever in KwaZulu-Natal for a credible Integrated Development Plan (IDP) review for 2021/2022 financial year.
The city scored 88.33% of the overall credibility, which has ranked it number one in the province.
The provincial benchmark for IDP credibility is 60% and the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs benchmark is 50%. The KZN average credibility rating for the 2021/2022 IDPs is 73.71%.
Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka commended uMhlathuze for innovative ways of public participation and stakeholder management during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
In a letter to the former mayor, Hlomuka wrote: “The adopted IDP submitted to my department, indicates that there were no objections to the development and adoption process of this IDP, following your public notices in terms of Sections 25(1) and 28 (2) of the Municipal Systems Act, I, therefore, declare that I have no intention to institute a Section 32(2) activity of the MSA regarding your integrated development planning process.”
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