Catching up with the former mayor of Westville

NICKY Armstrong took us on a trip down memory lane, recounting with fondness highlights of the 24 years that she served in the Westville Council between 1971 and 1995.

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“Westville had three wards, and each ward had three councillors. In the same council was a representative of the local affairs community, so it was 12 members with myself included,” she explained.

Armstrong said that being on the council was an honour and duty to serve the community. “Each member was selected based on their track record. Members who had the best interests of the community at heart and who put the needs of the community first were those sought out when members were elected.”

Armstrong explained that members were elected on a three-year term – when the term came to an end, they had the option to resign or stand in for another term.
“I started serving in the community in 1971. I was deputy mayor for six years, and mayor for seven. This time, I was re-elected. I remember each member being diligent and dedicated,” she said.

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She continued to tell us about the work they did together as a team – she remembers the Berthgal Museum as one of their greatest team efforts. Armstrong is one of the founding members of the museum, along with the council members of the 1980s and other community leaders from that time. The Berthgal Museum is the oldest building in Westville that was bought by the then-Westville council and is now owned by the eThekwini Municipality.

“When we heard that the owner of the house was putting the house up for sale, we made an urgent application to the provincial government who agreed to fund us with 50 percent, and we paid the other 50 percent. Each member had to pay R100, and we had other community members and businesses contribute.

“We had a delegation to get approval from the provincial government. The person who was meant to sign the approval was on holiday, so we had to send a traffic officer to Mr Fourie who signed, and that’s how it was approved,” she chuckled.

Armstrong said they made an appeal to the citizens of Westville to donate props to display at the museum, and the community donated generously.
Beyond her mayoral profile, Armstrong said she held other portfolios that served the community, as well. “I represented Westville in the Natal Municipal Association. I represented the province at the United Municipal Executives. I was also approached to present the president’s council and given the environmental portfolio,” she said.

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Armstrong’s reign as mayor saw the transition from the apartheid laws to democracy. She said these were happy times, and as a result, they invited the first black provincial assistance officer as a guest speaker to one of their yearly council functions that she hosted as mayor.

Armstrong said her experience serving in the council will always be a memory of honour. “It has always been a privilege to serve, and I rejoiced in it. My goal as a leader was to get to know people better, and I realised how many wonderful people surrounded us,” she said.

Nicky Armstrong was the last mayor of Westville before the town was merged with other parts of Durban to form the eThekwini Metro we have today. She is happily retired as a resident of Westville with her husband. The pair celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the beginning of this year.

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