Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. (Papi Morake/Garo Images)
Ekurhuleni metro mayor Nkosindiphile Shakaza has issued a stern warning to members of the Executive Mayors' Council (MMC), vowing to swiftly remove those who do not meet performance standards from next week.
“We have prepared a draft performance scorecard, which will be signed by all members and is intended to establish accountability among MMCs,” he said.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Shakaza said the ANC-led coalition would focus on stabilising the city's financial situation following the receipt of an unqualified findings report from South Africa's Auditor General into the period during which Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Finance MMC Nkululeko Dunga was in power.
On April 11, Shakaza was elected mayor unopposed and reappointed Dunga as treasurer.
The president fired Dunga last month due to “differences of opinion” and said on Wednesday his decision was prompted by “protests from the opposition calling for Dunga's removal.”
Shakaza replaced Dunga with Jongizizwe Dlabati on Tuesday.
Drabati has been critical of Dunga's actions as MMC for finance and has accused the EFF leadership of using taxpayers' money for personal purposes.
Drabati said at a press conference on Wednesday that he would crack down on fruitless and wasteful spending in the metro and improve performance in areas where his predecessor had failed.
Shortage of service provision in municipalities is attributed to irregular expenditure of funds.
“We are taking on the challenge of restoring and rebuilding the city's financial position. You all know we have long expressed concerns about the city's financial position. We are now taking steps to ensure we achieve fiscal sustainability,” he said.
Last year, Dlabathi formally asked the ANC to consider ending its coalition with the EFF in a letter to party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, highlighting the challenges and tensions that have plagued the ANC.
The ANC and EFF govern jointly in Ekurhuleni as well as Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay under an agreement under which councillors from smaller parties hold mayoral positions.
Shakaza's warning comes as local ANC leaders are lobbying to exclude the EFF from MMC positions in the province. Last month, the ANC's provincial executive committee resolved to sever ties with the EFF in metropolitan areas.
Mayor Shakaza said on Wednesday that although regions receive authority from provincial and national leadership, mayors are “elected by councils” and therefore have the final say on what should be done in their councils.
He added that work on the metro would continue regardless of the completion of negotiations for a provincial unity government.
Dunga said he does not expect the city to improve under Shakaza because the current mayoral council is still grappling with problems caused by the previous mayor, Mzwandile Masina.
“Ekurhuleni City was previously financially dysfunctional under Shakaza's rule. Now we are trying to stabilise it but the chaos they caused is still evident. They claim that only they can fix it but that is not true. They have consistently shown that they cannot,” he said.
“EFF has been removed for the past one month and some service providers have not been paid for two to three months. Nobody has said anything. It has been quiet,” Dunga said.
