City of Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. Images: LinkdIn and SABC.
Nkosindiphile Xhakaza was elected unopposed as the new mayor in the City of Ekurhuleni. Here’s what we know about him.
City of Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. Images: LinkdIn and SABC.
African National Congress (ANC) councillor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has been duly elected as the new City of Ekurhuleni mayor.
Xhakaza was elected unopposed and sworn in on Thursday, 11 April.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed Xhakaza’s appointment.
Speaking to the media, Lesufi said he is confident that Xhakaza has the best interests for the metro municipality at heart.
“This municipality has gone through difficulties, this is one municipality that we must accept has potential. History has demonstrated well that this municipality can run its finances and can render services the way we want it to,” he said.
The ANC Gauteng chairperson said the challenges that the City of Ekurhuleni has faced could be the reason why opposition parties accepted Xhakaza.
“He must lead the council and must not ;lead any faction. We must learn from the mistakes that we have made in this council. Hopefully, stability will reign and we will have a municipality that will render services to our citizens,” he added.
ANC Gauteng provincial secretary Thembinkosi Nciza said Nkodsindiphile Xhakaza’s appointment comes at a crucial time in the City of Ekurhuleni.
The municipality is confronted with governance challenges that have tainted its long-standing record as one of the most well-run municipalities.
“The municipality’s finances have been in a perilous state since the advent of the DA-led coalition government that left a devastating impact on service delivery and overall governance within the city,” Nciza said.