eThekwini elects Cyril Xaba as mayor after DA turnabout
The move comes after the provincial unity partner reversed a decision to field a candidate for the position
10 July 2024 - 16:47
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
eThekwini municipality mayor Cyril Xaba and deputy mayor Zandile Myeni pictured at his swearing in at the Durban International Convention Centre. Photo: SANDILE NDLOVU
Cyril Xaba of the ANC was elected unopposed as mayor of eThekwini after the DA reversed an earlier decision to field its candidate for the position.
eThekwini caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa confirmed to TimesLIVE shortly after Xaba was elected mayor on Wednesday that the decision had been reversed.
TimesLIVE understands the ANC and the DA reached a last-minute agreement in terms of which the human settlements & infrastructure portfolio was split. The IFP will chair human settlements while the DA chairs the infrastructure committee.
This came after previous commitments from the metro’s two biggest parties to work together at local government level in accordance with the government of national unity (GNU) principle.
Earlier on Wednesday it is understood that the ANC and the DA were struggling to agree on the split of mayoral committee positions in eThekwini.
DA KwaZulu-Natal chair Dean Macpherson had earlier in the day said parties failed to reach a co-governing deal because the ANC could not (at the time earlier on Wednesday) expressly commit to the DA’s three requirements for an agreement, the first being an agreed draft order, which would create a legal framework to settle a case over the water and sanitation crisis in the city.
This relates to a DA court petition to address the city’s persistent water and sewage problems — water provision challenges and sewage spills into the sea, purportedly due to ageing equipment at wastewater treatment plants, prompting the closure of beaches.
However, the two parties later agreed to vote for an ANC candidate.
TimesLIVE understands the municipal public accounts committee will be chaired by the EFF. Macpherson said the DA would not be part of a co-governing deal that includes the EFF.
“The EFF is not part of the GNU. The DA is clear we will not enter into any governance arrangement that involves the EFF. The unwillingness to remove the EFF is not something we can be a part of,” he added.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
eThekwini elects Cyril Xaba as mayor after DA turnabout
The move comes after the provincial unity partner reversed a decision to field a candidate for the position
Cyril Xaba of the ANC was elected unopposed as mayor of eThekwini after the DA reversed an earlier decision to field its candidate for the position.
eThekwini caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa confirmed to TimesLIVE shortly after Xaba was elected mayor on Wednesday that the decision had been reversed.
TimesLIVE understands the ANC and the DA reached a last-minute agreement in terms of which the human settlements & infrastructure portfolio was split. The IFP will chair human settlements while the DA chairs the infrastructure committee.
This came after previous commitments from the metro’s two biggest parties to work together at local government level in accordance with the government of national unity (GNU) principle.
Earlier on Wednesday it is understood that the ANC and the DA were struggling to agree on the split of mayoral committee positions in eThekwini.
DA KwaZulu-Natal chair Dean Macpherson had earlier in the day said parties failed to reach a co-governing deal because the ANC could not (at the time earlier on Wednesday) expressly commit to the DA’s three requirements for an agreement, the first being an agreed draft order, which would create a legal framework to settle a case over the water and sanitation crisis in the city.
This relates to a DA court petition to address the city’s persistent water and sewage problems — water provision challenges and sewage spills into the sea, purportedly due to ageing equipment at wastewater treatment plants, prompting the closure of beaches.
However, the two parties later agreed to vote for an ANC candidate.
TimesLIVE understands the municipal public accounts committee will be chaired by the EFF. Macpherson said the DA would not be part of a co-governing deal that includes the EFF.
“The EFF is not part of the GNU. The DA is clear we will not enter into any governance arrangement that involves the EFF. The unwillingness to remove the EFF is not something we can be a part of,” he added.
TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
No witch-hunt of MK defectors, says ANC chair in KwaZulu-Natal
Ethekwini without mayor after election postponed
IMRAAN BUCCUS: Ramaphosa administration must take action on construction mafia
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.