TODAY’S State of the City Address by eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede was an opportunity to show a political show of might ahead of next year’s elections.
Gumede, who has been the subject of allegations of graft in the media this past week, and officials marched behind a parade of Metro Police in the lead up to the event which took place at City Hall.
There was a peaceful protest before the proceedings by municipal workers who raised concerns about a group life policy that the city had subsequently scrapped without consultation with the affected employees.
The Mayor also addressed the media outside the city hall before the event. She stressed that the city was determined to fight corruption and said it would not be tolerated even if carried out by municipal workers. She said the fight against corruption was a means for the city to attract more investors and called on the support of businesses to help the municipality’s war against corruption.