With the City of Ekurhuleni making headlines for all wrong reasons, the call to support the Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s efforts to restore clean governance, stability, and service delivery is getiing louder everyday.
South Africans have recently heard through the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and parliamentary ad hoc committees that the city might have been captured during former Mayor Tania Campbell’s mayoralty.
Recent testimony has brought significant scrutiny to the relationship between the Democratic Alliance (DA) administration in Ekurhuleni and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi testified that his relationship with Matlala began in 2022, when he was introduced to Mike van Wyk, a Medicare24 director, by EMPD community liaison unit members. It is alleged that Matlala’s company, CAT VIP Protection Services, provided security for then-Mayor Campbell during her 2022 State of the City Address.
The commission also heard that Matlala provided these VIP protection services at no cost to the city, allegedly to gain familiarity and secure future health tenders. While fingers are pointing at Mkhwanazi, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was reportedly signed between the city and Matlala’s firm during Campbell’s tenure, which allegedly allowed private vehicles to be registered with blue lights under the EMPD.
The commission also learnt that Mkhwanazi is linked to a murder case and accused of running a rogue unit allegedly involved in extortion, kidnapping, theft and truck hijackings. The suspended metro police chief Jabulani Isaac Mapiyeye told the commission that a MoU between the EMPD and Matlala’s CAT VIP was unlawful. The EMPD is accused of failing to implement Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) recommendations of disciplinary action against Mkhwanazi relating to his role in the MoU with Matlala’s security company and the fitting of blue police lights on his vehicles.
Courageous Xhakaza who took office in April 2024, has implemented a multi-phased strategy focusing on financial recovery, political stability, and ethical governance to restore clean administration in Ekurhuleni.
As the newly elected Mayor, Xhakaza found himself leading a city has been challenged by instability driven by political brinkmanship, factional battles, and opportunism. It is one of the “highly contested municipality” in the country that has received criticism from and the attention of the top leaders of the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Action SA and Democratic Alliance (DA).
The political noise that is surrounding the municipality has have often diverted attention from the real work of local government: delivering services, maintaining infrastructure, managing public finances responsibly, and restoring public trust.
Mayor Xhakaza has made it clear that clean governance is not a slogan but a practice.
Responding to the subject of clean governance over political noise, the Centre For Leadership and Transformation RSA argued that it is not every political disagreement that will constitute a crisis.
“Not every administrative transition signals collapse. And not every governance challenge should be weaponised to destabilise the metro. The deliberate manufacture of panic erodes public confidence, undermines institutions, and ultimately harms the very communities politicians claim to represent.
“There is a growing tendency in local government politics to inflate routine governance developments into dramatic crises. This tactic may generate headlines or social media traction, but it does nothing to improve people’s lives. In fact, it often delays progress by diverting energy from problem-solving to damage control.”
Xhakaza has been praised for his calm and methodical leadership that is focusing on clear planning, logical problem-solving, and consistent execution to achieve his goals.
“Ekurhuleni does not need leaders who shout “crisis” at every turn. It needs leaders who can distinguish between genuine governance risks and political noise—and who act accordingly. Mayor Xhakaza’s calm, methodical leadership reflects this maturity. By refusing to be drawn into unnecessary drama, he is reinforcing a culture of responsibility and institutional respect.
The mayor has emphasized “back-to-basics” service delivery, significantly increasing the repairs and maintenance budget to R3.1 billion.
This funding is used for fixing potholes and streetlights, repairing water leaks and unblocking sewage systems, expanding waste collection services to informal settlements and nforcing by-laws and shutting down non-compliant businesses.
It has been argued that service delivery does not occur in an environment of perpetual uncertainty.
“It requires stable leadership, predictable decision-making, and cooperation across political lines. Mayor Xhakaza has consistently demonstrated an understanding of this principle by acting decisively when governance continuity is threatened and ensuring that institutional functionality remains intact.
“Rather than allowing council disruptions to spill over into operational paralysis, his administration has focused on maintaining momentum in key service delivery programmes. This pragmatic approach is essential in a metro where residents’ daily realities—water supply, electricity, roads, waste management, and housing—cannot be paused for political theatrics.”
Since his appointment, Xhakaza’s efforts are centered on building a responsive city by ensuring political stability, enhancing financial health, and delivering tangible improvements in residents’ quality of life.
“Clean governance is not the responsibility of the executive alone. It requires support from council members, political parties, civil society, organised labour, and residents themselves. Constructive criticism, robust oversight, and accountability are essential components of democracy—but they must be grounded in facts, not fiction.
“As residents of Ekurhuleni, we must ask ourselves a critical question: do we want a city governed through perpetual instability, or one guided by steady leadership focused on delivery? Supporting Mayor Xhakaza’s efforts does not mean abandoning scrutiny; it means rejecting reckless destabilisation in favour of responsible governance.”
Speaking to Newsroom Afrika journalist Xoli Mngambi, Xhakaza indicated he is pleased that Ekurhuleni has submitted their annual financial statements to the Auditor-General (AGSA) for auditing on time.
