The Daily Dispatch E-Edition

New mayor Faku commits to boosting service delivery

APHIWE DEKLERK

Newly elected Buffalo City Metro executive mayor Princess Faku has renewed the council’s commitment to improving service delivery to the citizens of the metro.

Faku, who is the ANC’S Dr WB Rubusana regional chair, was elected at a special council meeting on Thursday evening.

She takes over from Xola Pakati, who resigned on Monday, following months of pressure from his detractors.

Faku, dressed in gold, was elected in the presence of a gallery packed with ANC supporters, who broke out in song earlier in the day.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the social contract we have with our people,” said Faku, who beat DA leader Sue Bentley to the metro’s top job.

In what may be seen as a move to quell divisions within the caucus, Pakati was the councillor chosen to make the nomination.

Faku’s nomination was seconded by ANC councillor Monica Goci.

Bentley was nominated by councillor Vaughan Holmes and seconded by councillor Kwanele Zonke.

Faku received 61 of the votes to Bentley’s 22.

Addressing the council meeting after her victory, Faku thanked the ANC for trusting her to fulfil the mandate of the party.

She thanked Pakati for his contribution, saying he had laid the foundation.

She listed vandalism, land invasions, electrification of informal settlements, billing problems, improving quality of water and revenue collection as key focus areas.

“We must accelerate delivery of services to the people of Mdantsane, the people of Duncan Village, the people of King William’s Town [Qonce] and the people of East London.

“Today we declare zero tolerance on incompetence.

“Public officials must be accountable,” she said.

Her election to the BCM hot seat has been coming since May, when she was elected to the party’s Rubusana chair, putting her in pole position for the mayoral race.

Supporters of Faku have been pushing for her to take charge, including pushing for her office of deputy mayor to be given more powers.

Last year, the council was asked to resolve to move oversight of the BCM Development Agency, infrastructure and solid waste to her office, a move that was strongly opposed by the SA Communist Party, one of the alliance partners of the ANC.

Faku will now be expected to announce a new mayoral committee, including her own deputy.

The Daily Dispatch reported on Thursday that her deputy in the party, Kayise Tom, was the favourite to take over as the new deputy mayor.

The news sent the name of former MP Dr Mike Basopu further down in the pecking order.

Basopu had been touted as the next deputy mayor after he resigned last month to make way for finance minister Enoch Godongwana to be made a permanent MP when Ramaphosa was making moves to reshuffle his cabinet.

The Dispatch further reported on what Faku’s executive would look like after she has taken over control at the city hall. The Dispatch further reported that the regional leadership was tipped to be considering human settlements mayoral committee member Ntombizandile Mhlola as the new chief whip.

Finance MMC Sakhumzi Caga was said to be moving to human settlements, spatial development planning’s Nomaafrika Maxongo to finance, chief whip Sixolisiwe Ntsasela to local economic development, infrastructure services’ Malibongwe Mfazwe to human resources, BCM youth manager Yomelela Tyali to infrastructure services and long-serving ward councillor Clara Yekiso-morolong to solid waste.

It is understood that the provincial leadership will discuss the matter with the deputy mayor and the mayoral committee on Monday, before a final decision is taken.

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2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://dispatch.pressreader.com/article/281513640400770

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