DURBAN - The ANC’s Thabani Nyawose, who had been in the running to be the city’s next mayor, has been elected as the Speaker of the eThekwini Municipality.
Nyawose got the majority of votes, with the DA’s Thabani Mthethwa receiving 69 votes at today’s council meeting to elect the new leadership after the local government elections.
While the ANC failed to secure 50% of the vote in eThekwini, it is able to retain control of the city due to the agreement it reached with the IFP.
Nyawose had been in the running for the mayor’s position but the ANC announced yesterday that it had decided to retain Mxolisi Kaunda as mayor of the province’s only metro.
In his maiden speech, Nyawose called on councillors to work for the public and not be greedy and selfish.
He said they should maintain a high standard of integrity and have love and compassion for their community, especially the poor.
“We commit ourselves that we will work for the people of eThekwini with integrity,” he said.
Nyawose’s election was not without challenges, as some opposition parties complained that the tally of the votes did not make sense.
Serving in public office will not be a first for Nyawose as he also served as a councillor in the early days of local government in Durban’s South Central Council.
Speaking to The Mercury last month, Nyawose said one of the service delivery areas he had identified as needing attention was the water supply problem. He cited ageing infrastructure as the city’s key challenge, pointing to pipes that were more than 60 years old and how these were resulting in constant bursts and water loss.
THE MERCURY