Sunday Tribune

Mayor undeterred by motion

NO CONFIDENCE LETHU NXUMALO lethu.nxumalo@inl.co.za

PIETERMARITZBURG Mayor Mzi Thebolla will face yet another motion of no confidence come month end, but he says he is not deterred. Instead, Thebolla has appealed to the DA to desist from using publicity stunts and to focus on working with the ANC to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

The motion of no confidence signed by DA Msunduzi caucus leader councillor Ross Strachan was received by the council speaker, Eunice Majola’s, office on Monday. Strachan said the vote of no confidence was based on Thebolla’s failure to fulfil his duties, obligations and responsibilities.

He cited lack of political, financial and administrative guidance under Thebolla’s leadership and said forensic reports as well as investigations into financial mismanagement and corruption were a reflection on the financial chaos in the capital.

Strachan said there was lack of good governance, services and revenue collection and that the municipality had a negative image in the media.

He said opposition parties that were interested in saving the city would be on board.

“I believe in saving the city, therefore I believe that any motion or campaign set into action by the Democratic Alliance will be successful in achieving its desired outcome.

“The municipality needs a proactive leader on the ground that acts without fear or favour, that acts with integrity without political interference, and treats every citizen equally no matter where they come from or what they look like,” he said.

He said Msunduzi needed its basics to be done right with the right people in place for the job.

Exactly a year ago Msunduzi residents and opposition political parties were in full support of the mayor’s removal. At the time mayoral spokesperson Zazi Nxele called the move “petty politicking”.

This time Nxele said that residents were happy with the efforts of the municipality and that the mayor and his executives held daily 6am meetings, a step to ensure that managers were held accountable and were providing answers to questions that the people were raising.

“Of course we have a long way to go and we are working tirelessly.

“Our position is that the DA in council was voted in by the people to ensure service delivery.

“Therefore, we want to invite its counterparts, because they draw salaries from the municipality, to work for the people who voted for them.

“There must be a collective effort in making sure that we have a municipality that is moving,” he said.

On the recent unplanned water and electricity outages plaguing the city, Nxele said those issues were not only faced by Msunduzi, but that they were a provincial as well as a national issue.

“We have embarked on a project of patching potholes, we are busy with street lights as well, it’s not as if we are not doing anything.

“The people are seeing the difference,” he said.

But people disagree. A ratepayer said Thebolla and his deputy Mxolisi Mkhize should go.

“He must go now and not wait until his term comes to an end. He has never worked in favour of the loyal ratepayers but has always worked against us to line their pockets more.

“Both the mayor and deputy should be voted in by us, the ratepayers, just as they do for the local and national elections. The rules need to change because we are funding their salaries,” he said.

Another said that Thebolla needed to be investigated, especially since he was still at the helm with nothing to show for it.

“I am calling out to the DA, EFF, Minority Front, Actionsa, all political groups to come to the party. Many have blown hot air for far too long. Let’s see their top form now,” said the resident.

METRO

en-za

2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytribune.pressreader.com/article/281612424182831

African News Agency