New KZN mayors vow positive change in municipalities
KwaZulu-Natal opposition parties that clinched the mayors' chains in some major municipalities admit they have got their work cut out for them going forward.
uMhlathuze's new mayor is the Inkatha Freedom Party's Nkonzoyakhe Donda, who was elected unopposed this week.
The Economic Freedom Fighters' Nkululeko Ngubane will serve as deputy mayor in a municipality previously governed by the African National Congress.
Donda says they've inherited a broken city riddled with corruption and water, electricity and rate issues.
"In actual fact, we are taking over the municipality under difficult circumstances when it's marred by water shortages, unreliable electricity supply and poor road infrastructure when there are no traffic lights.
"Our first priority is to sort out the water issue, because this is an ongoing problem. Being without water means that people cannot bath to keep themselves clean more especially during these times of Covid- when hygiene has to be maintained."
The Democratic Alliance's Christopher Pappas spent his first day in office as uMngeni Local Municipal mayor on Tuesday.
During his inaugural address earlier this week, he said positive changes are on the cards for the Midlands town.
"There is no doubt that our municipality has suffered many years, mismanagement, corruption, maladministration, cadre deployment, skewed priorities, the lack of consequence management and political infighting.
"But this administration will be different, we must be different. We will stand with the hardworking, freedom-loving people of the of the KZN midlands, those who want to live and raise their families in safe community, support each other and build communities where all people, regardless of their backgrounds, make progress together."
