Johnathan Paoli
Opposition parties in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality have condemned the recent appointment of the 10 Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and called it a political power play between the ANC and EFF that is in stark contrast to the needs of the people.
DA Ekurhuleni leader and former Mayor Tania Campbell issued a statement on Tuesday, and said that while her party has noted the announcement by the Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza of the new committee, she remained concerned over what she referred to as an impending collapse of service delivery for residents and businesses in the city.
Campbell said the recent reshuffling was merely familiar faces in new positions and the rewarding of EFF councilors with “big, tender-heavy portfolios”.
She said the incompetence of the MMCs illustrated the inability of the coalition to engage the mandate of the people they claimed to represent and was further evidence of the party’s intentions to financially exploit the city’s coffers.
“Unfortunately, political self-interests and personal egos have taken preference over serving the people and we can no doubt expect the same from the government, who ‘rewarded’ the former voted out EFF-puppet Mayor, with another puppet position of MMC for Corporate and Shared Services,” Campbell said.
She reiterated her party’s call for the dissolution of the council and a call for fresh elections and said the reshuffling of MMC positions is the equivalent of reshuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic and hoping for it not to sink.
Ekurhuleni ActionSA has criticised the appointment as a compromise between the EFF and the ANC, which would ultimately disadvantage the residents of the metro.
Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader Siyanda Makhubo said that he found the reappointment of EFF councilor Nkululeko Dunga as MMC for Finance disappointing, in light of Dunga plunging the metro into a financial crisis, rendering the city unable to pay service providers and collapsing service delivery in the process.
Makhubo said that the reappointment of EFF MMCs was a consequence of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s attempt to cling to power in light of the ruling party possibly losing its majority in the province – a political maneuver he referred to as “counting on the EFF to keep him as Premier.”
“These developments make it evident that a vote for the ANC is indeed a vote for the EFF, even at the expense of service delivery for residents,” he said.
Makhubo said that his party would continue to garner effective and constructive opposition within the council, and hold the ANC-EFF led administration accountable.
The new MMCs consist of Five EFF, four ANC and one African Independent Congress member, with Malesela Madihlaba, who headed the human settlement portfolio previously for the ANC not being reappointed.
Xhakaza made two changes, where Ngodwana was appointed as MMC of Corporate and Shared Services, a position previously occupied by Xhakaza and Thembi Msane being appointed for Water and Sanitation.
Leshaka Manamela has been appointed as the MMC for Environmental Resources and Waste Management; Bridget Thusi for Community Services, and Sizakele Masuku for Community Safety.
Nomadlozi Nkosi has been appointed in Developmental Planning and Real Estate, Andile Mgwevu in Roads and Transport Planning, Mzayifani Ngwenya in Energy and Kgopelo Hollo replacing Madihlaba in Human Settlements.
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