Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has decided to continue with the announcement a major reshuffle of the City of Ekurhuleni’s Mayoral Committee, despite the disapproval of the reshuffle from other political parties, comprising of the ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
On Wednesday, 18 February Xhakaza welcomed seven newly appointed Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), made up of the African National Congress (ANC), the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the National Freedom Party (NFP).
The newly appointed MMCs are:
Cllr Jean Sthato – Metro Utilities (Trading) Services
Cllr Nomadlozi Nkosi – Metro Operations and Maintenance
Cllr Dino Peterson – Development Planning and Real Estate
Cllr Lindiwe Mnguni – Roads and Transport
Cllr Mzayifani Ngwenya – Community Safety
Cllr Siphumule Ntombela – Corporate Shared Services
Cllr Jongizizwe Dlabathi – Finance and Strategy.
The city wished the new Mayoral Committee strength and success as they are expected to work to deliver efficient services and drive development across the city.
The statement from the office of Xhakaza confirmed that the office had consultation with the multi-party organisations represented in Council, which includes thirteen of the sixteen political parties.
“An agreed upon Ekurhuleni Governance Framework was widely accepted to guide the work of the executive. This framework is a foundation to strengthen a sustainable Ekurhuleni Government of Local Unity (EGLU).
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba has vehemently denied involvement in what he called “a fabricated media statement”regarding changes to the Ekurhuleni Mayoral Executive, emphasizing that they have not engaged in or agreed to any such restructuring.
Mashaba indicated that the party reiterates its refusal to join what it calls a “failing and corrupt” administration responsible for service delivery failures.
Xhakaza announced a reshuffle of his mayoral committee to include ActionSA’s Xolani Khumalo as the MMC for the Community Services and By-Law Enforcement portfolio.
“Following repeated and unsuccessful attempts by Mayor Xhakaza to solicit ActionSA’s participation in his administration, I have consistently made it clear that we will not join his failing government and have rejected every personal and formal approach made to us.”
“Our position has been very clear on every occasion that we will not lend credibility to an administration that has overseen the lawless and deterioration of service delivery that continues to cripple the city.
“The people of Ekurhuleni are tired of dysfunction, lawlessness and the collapse of basic municipal services. ActionSA’s focus remains on restoring governance, cleaning out corruption, restoring the rule of law and fixing the fundamentals of service delivery. These are priorities we intend to implement when we secure a clear mandate from residents in the upcoming local government elections,” said Mashaba.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) confirmed that they have declined the offer to be part of the newly announced mayoral committee.
“Xhakaza has unilaterally removed EFF Councillor Bridget Thusi as the MMC for Community Services and EFF Councillor Kgopelo Hollo as the MMC for Human Settlement. Both of these MMC’s have performed well in their Portfolios and have been of exemplary service to the people of Ekurhuleni.
“The removal of these two EFF MMC’s, follows the removal of EFF Councillor Nkululeko Dunga as the MMC of Finance in 2024, a decision which. Has seen a decline in the City’s finances and growing debts. Most recently, the ANC at the behest of Xhakaza refused to fill the vacancy of the Speaker of the City Council with an EFF Councillor, as had been agreed upon in previous negotiations as the position had been held by the EFF,” said the party in a statement.
The party also disagrees with the removal of Cllr Thembi Msane as the MMC for Water and Sanitation.
“In his attempt to constitute a new Mayoral Committee, with less EFF Councillors, Xhakaza has offered EFF Councillors Commissar Thembi Msane and Fighter Leshaka Manamela the roles of MMC for Infrastructure and Economic Development Agency and MMC for Human Settlements respectively.”
