Gumede’s election creates two centres of power in council
DA councillor, Martin Meyer, said the ANC regional congress has created more questions than answers, and he said unfortunately it was each and every resident that will suffer.
EXPECTATIONS are high that the outcome of the ANC regional conference held at Moses Mabhida Stadium at the weekend which saw Councillor Zandile Gumede sweep into power as the first woman to lead the ANC in eThekwini over arch rival, Mayor James Nxumalo, will be challenged in court.
DA councillor Martin Meyer, who said he would not be surprised if the outcome was challenged, said that many ANC members who boycotted the conference did it for a purpose. Meyer said Gumede's appointment was not the end of a “long, drawn out fiasco.”
However, if Gumede's position remained unchanged he said, the city and province would find itself in a situation where two centres of power operated within the council.
“The chair of the region does not have to be the mayor, but when the chairperson of the region sits within the executive committee, an executive committee it must be added that by and large supported Mayor James Nxumalo, then one cannot help but wonder who will be in charge for real,” he said.
Meyer said he felt the fiasco of the Congress had already damaged the city and hampered service delivery, and was afraid the outcome of the election would do nothing to improve this but would rather worsen the situation.
“Officials who have openly sided with councillor Gumede will not take instructions from the mayor or other Exco members now. And those who supported the mayor, will they hold fast in their support, or will they read the way the wind is blowing and change their sails accordingly? And our illustrious City Manager? We know how he sided. What is his future now? Will he continue to run this city like it is his own personal property, will he now seek other employment options, or will he also see the lay of the land and change his colours?” asked Meyer.
Meyer said the regional congress had created more questions than answers, and unfortunately it was each and every resident of the city, whether they lived in the townships, suburbs or informal settlements, that would suffer.
“Like the Lord of the Ring's Two Towers, when you have two centres of power each serving its own selfish interests, it is those without power who suffer,” he said.
