eThekwini Mayor celebrates while people live without services

21 September 2016

Today, the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Zandile Gumede, will celebrate 30 days in office – as announced in an invitation to the media. Given her complete lack of action, we can only assume that it will be a celebration of her first salary, and nothing else. 

The DA has repeatedly called on the Executive Committee of the Municipality to convene, in order to take decisions that will allow the city to operate and fulfil its mandate properly. Yesterday this finally happened – but only to be told that the inauguration of Portfolio Committees will only take place in the second week of October.

There is a complete lack of urgency by the new administration. This lack of leadership is shameful when so many people face poor service delivery, and are unemployed.

It is telling that the new Mayor can act quickly when it comes to her own interests, but sits on her hands when it comes to important tasks. Indeed, in the last 30 days, she has:

- Bought a new vehicle fleet

- Started renovations on her office

- Hired more VIP bodyguards

- Used metro police as personal security instead of allowing them to enforce bylaws; and

- Ditched the Finance and Procurement Committee.

This is a mayor that puts herself first and the people of eThekwini last. 

The DA will continue to do everything possible to hold the Mayor accountable for her lack of leadership and poor management of the Municipality. Better services and more jobs must be our city’s first priority – not parties and luxuries for the politically connected elite. 

Issued by Zwakele Mncwango, DA KZN Leader, 21 September 2016