New Ekurhuleni executive mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza of the ANC, which has complained that its coalition pact with the EFF is “more damaging than helpful”, has appointed five EFF councillors to five “big, tender-heavy” portfolios of his 10-member mayoral cabinet.
The ANC described the move as showing its commitment to work with all parties represented in council. This comes after Xhakaza’s unopposed election as the Ekurhuleni mayor on Thursday last week after a recent ActionSA-sponsored no-confidence motion against African Independent Congress (AIC) councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana.
The Ekurhuleni council has 224 seats, with the ANC holding 86, the DA 65, EFF 31, ActionSA 15, Freedom Front Plus 8, IFP 2, ACDP 2 and smaller parties holding 10 seats.
Control of the Ekurhuleni metro has changed hands from coalitions led by the ANC to the DA, AIC, and back to the ANC since 2016 due to what was attributed to the instability of coalitions.
On Monday, Xhakaza, an old hand in council, appointed members of his mayoral committee that included:
- Water & sanitation MMC Thembi Msane (EFF)
- Finance MMC Nkululeko Dunga (EFF)
- Environmental resources |& waste management MMC Leshaka Manamela (EFF)
- Community services MMC Bridget Thusi (EFF)
- Human settlements MMC Kgopelo Hollo (EFF)
- Community safety MMC Sizakele Masuku (ANC)
- Development planning & real estate MMC Nomadlozi Nkosi (ANC)
- Roads & transport planning MMC Andile Mngwevu (ANC)
- Energy MMC Mzayifani Ngwenya (ANC)
- Corporate & shared services MMC Ngodwana (AIC)
EFF councillor Nthabiseng Tshivhenga stayed on as council speaker.
The mayoral cabinet’s composition is puzzling as the ANC has often complained about its coalition pact with the EFF, saying the red berets were using the agreements in its strategy to gain power so it could demonstrate its ability to govern.
In a recent interview with television anchor and political commentator JJ Tabane, EFF leader Julius Malema said: “The ANC and DA can’t differentiate between power and glory. That’s why the EFF was able to say, in Ekurhuleni ... [it is OK to appoint Ngodwana as mayor]. We don’t mind, we don’t care, but we need five MMCs. Why? We knew that’s where the power is.”
Damaging
In October 2023, ANC head of political education and former Gauteng premier David Makhura said the party should review its coalition partnership with the EFF as it is “more damaging than helpful”.
“The EFF uses coalitions to contest the ANC’s social base and further damage its brand,” Makhura said.
Cracks in the EFF-ANC partnership began to show earlier in October when the ANC’s Ekurhuleni chair, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, wrote to secretary-general Fikile Mbalula complaining the coalition arrangement is detrimental to the ANC.
Dlabathi had previously raised financial concern in Ekurhuleni, where the EFF leader in Gauteng, Dunga, serves as finance MMC.
The ANC then asked its national task team on coalitions, headed by Mbalula, to present a report on cutting ties with the opposition parties, including the Patriotic Alliance (PA), headed by Gayton McKenzie.
On Tuesday, DA Ekurhuleni leader and former executive mayor Tania Campbell said that due to Xhakaza’s election “the reign of corruption in Ekurhuleni will now truly take hold as the ANC and the EFF’s coalition deepens, leaving the residents and businesses desperate as service delivery will no doubt collapse further”.
She took issue with Xhakaza’s mayoral cabinet, saying he had “merely reshuffled familiar faces into new positions, but rewarded the EFF councillors with big, tender-heavy portfolios”.
“The EFF puppet mayor [Ngodwana] may have been removed three weeks ago, but it seems like the EFF replaced him with an ANC equivalent,” said Campbell. The DA is calling for the Ekurhuleni council to be dissolved, saying only fresh elections could save the city.
Campbell said the ANC-EFF coalition will now “rip open what is left of the city’s coffers and loot”.
Unity government
“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 [Ngodwana], with another puppet position of MMC for corporate & shared services,” said Campbell.
ANC Gauteng secretary Thembinkosi Nciza described the Ekurhuleni coalition as a government of local unity, saying: “We have coalition agreements with many parties across the province, including the EFF.”
Ngodwana had to be removed because he had no experience or understanding of running a metro and “the EFF was running that municipality through Ngodwana”.
“He did not understand government the way we understand it. Critical committees to pass the budget were not sitting, which was a problem. You needed an experienced mayor to put his foot down,” said Nciza.
He described Xhakaza, the former deputy chief whip, and erstwhile MMC for water & energy; finance; economic development; and ICT, as an “experienced, tried and tested” official.
“He is one of the most experienced councillors. He has been in that council for about 15 years. He also appreciates that we are working with other parties. He knows how to make the administration and executive to be accountable, and you need experience to understand that,” Nciza said.
Ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service recently sent the rating of the Ekurhuleni metro further into junk territory and placed Tshwane’s on review for a downgrade for failure to submit its audited financial statements by February 29.
The ratings agency downgraded Ekurhuleni’s long-term issuer (domestic), senior unsecured ratings to Caa2, three notches below the highest junk status, in reflection of a high credit risk.
Nciza said: “The problems we had in Ekurhuleni will be resolved. Our commitment is to stabilise this coalition. The parties must set their political ideologies aside and bring services to the people.”
The MMCs are tasked with ensuring the provision of sustainable services to all residents, rebuilding “a strong financial base” to support the city’s development, and repairing and maintaining public facilities.
They also have to promote infrastructure investment; drive economic development, growth and job creation; preserve good governance as well as combat corruption, fraud and maladministration.
The mayor responds:
In response to questions from Business Day, Xhakaza said: “I am confident that the residents of Ekurhuleni are excited to have a mayor who truly embodies their aspirations, as expressed in the 2021 local government elections. Shortly after my swearing-in, I immediately attended an integrated development plan (IDP) public meeting in Thembisa.
“It was profoundly moving to receive such a warm reception in the township where I grew up. Nevertheless, my most important priority at the moment is to serve all the residents of Ekurhuleni, directing our efforts towards fostering local economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and advancing energy sustainability.”
About his urgent priorities, he said: “We are set to embark on a strategic planning session (mayoral lekgotla) with the newly appointed mayoral committee, aimed at aligning our collective vision and setting clear realistic and measurable objectives for the municipality. However, from the onset the following issues remain top of the agenda regarding improving service delivery across the city:
— Ensuring the provision of sustainable services to all residents
— Rebuilding a strong financial base to support the city's development
— Conducting essential repairs and maintenance of public facilities
— Promoting infrastructure investment, encouraging private sector participation
— Driving economic development, growth, and job creation
— Preserving good governance and combating corruption, fraud, and maladministration.”
Regarding the ANC/EFF coalition, Xhakaza said “The current mayoral committee was formed after thorough consultations with all parties represented in the Council. Our primary objective is to foster political stability within the city. It is essential to acknowledge that the ANC fully appreciates the legislated authority of an executive mayor within a metro context. Accordingly, we will implement performance agreements for all members of the mayoral committee. I am committed to holding every member accountable, irrespective of their party affiliation.
“We will be signing performance agreements for all members of the mayoral committee. Failure to deliver on the KPA’s outlined in the performance agreements will result in me exercising my legislated authority as mayor.
We anticipate the current mayoral committee will serve out the remainder of the current political term. To enhance the management of political engagements among the multiparty mayoral committee stakeholders, we will be introducing new systems. Moreover, we aim to be remembered for providing a clear vision for the city and for basing our decision-making approach on robust community engagement through izimbizo’ and other platforms. We are committed to fostering collaborative governance with all our stakeholders, including business and civil society.”
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