Mayor inaugurated with a speech of promises
Dressed in their best attire, members of the public as well as people of importance in our city, were welcomed at the mayoral inauguration.
Dressed in their best attire, members of the public as well as people of importance in our city, were welcomed at the mayoral inauguration.
On Friday, September 16 most guests arrived as the event was scheduled to start at 10:00 in the city hall. This event however, only kicked off at 11:00 and apologies were made for the late start, stating that our new mayor, Cllr Ntshalintshali had other obligations to attend to first.
Executive Mayor Cllr Lindiwe Ntsalintshali was inaugurated on Friday, September 16 at the city hall.
As guests, as well as the media sat, waiting for the mayor to deliver her speech, she, along with Brig Delisiwe Motha and Mr Theo van Vuuren, to only mention a few, participated in the march as the Syasebenza Community @ Work Ensemble sang the national anthem.
After the formalities were dealt with, the mayor firstly addressed the businesses of our city. They were thanked for opening their hearts and wallets which added to the success of the event. It was also stated in the opening words that the Emalahleni Local Municipality is the home for service delivery.
Executive Mayor Cllr Lindiwe Ntsalintshali during the march at the inauguration on Friday, September 16 at the city hall
Many ‘touchy’ subjects were addressed in the newly elected mayor’s speech, like the recent protests in Tasbet Park, the purchase of a car of R1.5 million as well as service delivery objectives.
Regarding the Tasbet Park protests, Cllr Ntshalintshali mentioned that the problem of protesters was addressed, when roads in Tasbet Park were blocked due to a lack of water and communities taking to the streets.
“The blocking of national roads and burning tyres was due to a thirst for employment. We would like to confess that these are challenges that are top on the lists to deal with by our council. Through our commitment and as our vision, we urgently responded to such reactions and engaged communities to dialogue on these issues, because this is our liability, we are accountable to them and we will keep on doing that,” Cllr Ntshalintshali stated.
She also said that they call those behind these coward actions like destroying of property, stopping of operations of industy, burning of company cars and so forth, to refrain or the relevant institutions will do their work.
In a heated media debate, which originated from her need for a new car, she mentioned that the council is honoured to be able to stand before the city of eMalahleni and to be the representatives of this municipality.
Mr Theo van Vuuren, Municipal Manager during the march at the mayoral inauguration on Friday, September 16 at the city hall.
“Communities are entrusting us to be responsible and accountable. No individual from this council will be allowed to deviate from rules, acts and procedures that govern the council and its communities, be it the Executive Mayor, Speaker, Chief Whip and so forth. No executive mayor alone can decide on spending councils money independent from the council’s thorough looking at, that needed to be approved, otherwise council will not be obliged to own the decision. Without any doubt, we are referring to the recent distortions on the intended mayoral car saga of R1.5 million. We would like to inform and emphasise that council has its roles and responsibilities as prescribed by the acts. Council clearly understands the processes to follow as prescribed by the acts. On this note, I would like to ensure all of you that any deviation to such act, will be equal to council undermining its communities, which is not thinkable by this council and will not,” she added.
Cllr Ntshalintshali also said that Local Government Acts state that a council decision may only be made at a properly constituted council meeting or under council delegation. Neither the mayor nor individual councillors have the legal authority to act or make decisions on behalf of the council.
“I would therefore like to appeal, especially to all councillors across political parties that a collective council decision is as important than any individual decision. We therefore must resist from seeking media attention through undermining of such decisions, those are council decisions and they will remain so,” were her words.
Van Vuuren was contacted regarding the funding of this event.
“As this event is not funded from the municipality and service providers are paid directly by sponsors, I do not have either the information nor the authority to disclose the level of detail as required from your questions. No funds have been channelled through the municipality. The inauguration event is a tradition and also a must as at the event, the political office bearers take an oath which confirms them in their offices. It is not a ‘nice to have’. In the development of our city we partner with many people and organisations. We are extremely grateful for all support we do get from them on many issues and in this case their support to make this event possible. It’s good to have positive energy moving us forward and to see there are still many who are willing to assist,” Van Vuuren stated on Friday, September 16.
The vision of eMalahleni is ‘striving together to be an excellent centre for service delivery and development’.
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