Pic: Siyabonga Sesant
Newly-elected Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Gary van Niekerk said the performance of every single councillor – including himself – will constantly be evaluated so as to effectively address the crises affecting the metro.
Van Niekerk mentioned the municipality’s water woes, electricity challenges and a city that is stalked by a climbing crime rate.
He was addressing the media at City Hall on Tuesday where he also announced his new mayoral committee.
Van Niekerk promised that public representatives will be held accountable.
“Hard work, consistency, honesty and sincerity – we must all can follow that blueprint because we are going to consistently evaluate our progress,” said Van Niekerk.
He implored the mayoral committee members not to let the residents of the metro down.
“We are in coalition government so please don’t come back and say, ‘you are not my boss, I’m not in your party,’ … that’s not the point. You are now appointed as a full-time councillor so yes, I am your boss and I will hold you accountable. If you are not doing what you’re supposed to be doing remember that it’s poor and the vulnerable [that suffer].”
Van Niekerk said he’s confident the new coalition government will take the metro right through to the local government elections in 2026.
Eleven councillors were axed from the previous council leadership, including now-former mayor Retief Odendaal.
Odendaal was removed on Friday in a motion of no confidence.
Bassie Kamana and Tshonono Buyeye are the only councilors who survived the chop, with van Niekerk who’s gone from Speaker in the previous administration to Mayor.
Van Niekerk says he’s confident in the new leadership.
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The mayor also said while service delivery will receive a boost all over the metro there will be a special focus on the Northern Areas, that he said had been marganilised for years.
