AS pre-empted in a report by the Weekend Argus at the weekend, Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie has been elected as the new Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality.
McKenzie was sworn in as a councillor of the Laingsburg municipality and then joined the Central Karoo district municipality as a representative last week.
On Monday, McKenzie was elected mayor of the district uncontested.
Councillors and supporters broke out in song when it was announced that McKenzie was standing uncontested. His election was made possible by their coalition partners, the ANC and Karoo Democratic Force (KDF).
McKenzie started his speech as mayor by thanking the Lord and later apologised to the residents for the suffering they have endured in the past.
“I would like to apologise to the residents of the Central Karoo because we politicians have not taken them seriously.
“Gone are the times where we point fingers at other people. We are going to take responsibility and it's an era of accepting and fixing.
“I'm not a mayor of PA people here. I am a mayor of everyone here,” said McKenzie.
He made bold promises to the residents including cancelling municipal debts except for businesses.
"It must be zero, zero, zero, zero, but we will be ruthless if you are one month behind. Everyone who is blocked, should be unblocked.” He said this will happen in the next seven days.
He added that businesses and farms owe the municipality millions of rand yet their electricity is not switched off.
He also said he will not have a mayoral vehicle and that it should be sold and the money used to buy an ambulance.
McKenzie promised to be the mayor of the people and that he will lead cleaning campaigns in the municipality.
He repeated that he will not be taking a salary and the money will be used to improve services. | Weekend Argus