eThekwini still without a mayor

THE election for Durban’s mayor, which was supposed to have taken place during the full eThekwini Municipality council sitting, on June 25, was postponed. This means the municipality is still without a mayor.

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Council Speaker Thabani Nyawose said the election of a new mayor was postponed over outstanding issues, which included the absence of the Chief Magistrate responsible for swearing in members, and the unavailability of the Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the voting process.

“Yes, we were expecting to elect our mayor today, but I can confirm that we are not going to elect the mayor,” said Nyawose.

The vacancy of the mayor of eThekwini came after the former mayor Mxolisi Kaunda resigned earlier this month after the ANC promoted him to the National Council of Provinces in Parliament. During his final address on June 13, Kaunda gave himself a pat on the back, saying he essentially leaves the municipality in a better position than he found it.

Former KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and former Parliament member, Cyril Xaba, is widely tipped to be the next eThekwini mayor. This comes after he was recently quietly sworn in as an eThekwini Proportional Representation Councillor, replacing Kaunda in the City Council.

A new date for the election will be announced.

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