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Mayoral Committee V13.67b – We Disavow you of that Silly Notion that the Mayor is in Charge

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I can recall a time when the announcement of a Mayoral Committe was ACTUALLY newsworthy. Media wags and citizens would debate endlessly on the merits and demerits of who should occupy which position and one got the sense that special care was being taken to ensure that the needs of citizens were of paramount importance when selecting political heads for each of the positions.

In our current political climate one gets the sense that the only frisson of excitement around these announcements comes from the nominees and incumbents themselves as they are elevated to positions of power that carry far greater monthly salaries and benefits and are much closer to the table dripping with gold and silver gravy for the taking. And not to forget the National Political Parties as well as they ready themselves to count the increased political tithes from their deployees. Yes, did you forget that a portion of every councillors salary goes to his/her/the/they’s political party? Just another way that your rates finance an opposition party that you don’t want to see in power!

Watch over the coming weeks (days?) as the people below buy new cars, clothes and hair and change appearance in order to rub their fortune of birth and corruption into the noses of punch drunk citizens struggling to just put food on the table. I can personally assure you that Gary will NOT use his new found wealth to return my powerbank and lightening cable that he promised to return to me on numerous occasions. If he does return my items then I will run (walk with dignity) naked around City Hall!

I suppose they do not even have the saving grace of being able to play the violin as our City burns around us! Below is a list of all the Neros that we will have to contend wth until the next Coalition Collision:

Mayoral Committee Members

  1. Mr. Gary Van Niekerk (NA) – Executive Mayor
  2. Ms. Babalwa Lobishe (ANC) – Deputy Executive Mayor
  3. Ms. Eugene Johnson (ANC) – Speaker Of Council
  4. Mr. Wandisile Jikeka (ANC) – Chief Whip
  5. Ms. Buyelwa Nancy Mafaya (ANC) – MMC: Budget & Treasury
  6. Ms. Yolisa Margaret Pali (ANC) – MMC: Corporate Services
  7. Ms. Shuling Hazel Lindoor (PA) – MMC: Economic Development, Tourism & Agriculture
  8. Ms. Ntombizanele Sikawuti (EFF) – MMC: Electricity & Energy
  9. Mr. Thembinkosi Bethwell Mafana (ANC) – MMC: Human Settlements
  10. Mr. Khanya Ngqisha (EFF) – MMC: Infrastructure & Engineering
  11. Mr. Bradley Michael Murray (PA) – MMC: Roads & Transport
  12. Mr. John Mervyn Mitchell (NA) – MMC: Safety & Security
  13. Mr. Mcebisi Bass Kamana (PAC) – MMC: Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture Services
  14. Mr. Thsonono Christopher Solomon Buyeye (AIC) – Public Health

Let us disavow you of the notion that the Mayor is actually in charge…

Nelson Mandela Bay has 120 Councillors, comprising 60 Ward Councillors and 60 Proportional Representative (PR) Councillors, as elected by the residents of the Metro in successive Local Government elections.

The Executive Mayor – Mr. Gary Van Niekerk (NA) – governs together with the Speaker -Ms. Eugene Johnson (ANC) – who is the Chairperson of the Metropolitan Council, the Deputy Executive Mayor – Ms. Babalwa Lobishe (ANC) – and a team of Chairpersons of Portfolio Committees within an Executive Mayoral Committee system.

From the above it can bee seen that he ANC holds the power in te Mayors Office (Speaker and Deputy Mayor from ANC and Mayor from NA). Whilst the 11 Portfolio Committee political allegiances are: ANC – 4, EFF – 2, PA – 2, PAC – 1, AIC – 1, NA – 1. The majority are held by ANC and ‘joined at the hip’ partners so, effectively, the ANC is in charge despite the supposed top job being in the hands of our pants pocket billiards playing GOAT, Gary van Niekerk.

Council is headed by the Speaker. The role of a council in local government is that of lawmaker and, as such, it focuses on legislation, participation and oversight. In addition, municipal councils facilitate political discussions and debate in order to assist in planning and decision-making. The Council of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is headed by the Speaker and comprises 120 Councillors, elected through a mixed-member proportional representative system. Altogether 60 of those Councillors were elected through a voting process in the 60 wards that make up Nelson Mandela Bay. The remaining 60 Councillors were selected from party lists, on the basis that the total number of party representatives must be proportional to the number of votes received.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.