Racism, education and the economy were the focus of Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Danny Jordaan's speech at the first Council Meeting for 2016 which took place in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Jordaan struck a reconciliatory tone when he addressed the meeting on the subject of racism. This followed the council's decision to support ANC councillor's Fiki Desi's call to have DA's Chris Roberts permanently removed as a councillor.
Roberts was pilloried by the ruling party as well as other opposition parties for calling UDM councillor, Mongameli Bobani, a "baboon".
Jordaan said racism had no place in South Africa's democratic society.
"I have noted the debate that took place earlier on racism. I want to pledge on my own behalf and on behalf of the Mayoral Committee that we will do everything possible to lead by example to build social cohesion and fight racism" He said.
Jordaan also noted that diversifying the Metro's economy was on top of his priority list. He said unlocking the so-called ocean economy will be "one the major investment avenues worth perusing in 2016."
The so-called blue economy forms part of Department of Economic Development,Environmental Affairs and Tourism's strategy to use resources found in the country's oceans to contribute to economic development.
Jordaan added that a strategic commitee has begun with plans of hosting a seminar with marine stakeholders and investors.
"We recognise that this Metro must diversify it's economy and the ocean or blue economy provides huge opportunity, it's a game changer for this Metro and I am sure you will be surprised at the massive opportunities in the blue economy and impact it will have on this Metro" he said.
Jordaan said some of the major investment projects in pipeline for the metro include the waterfront development at the PE port, the Smart City wifi project and the creation of a township economy with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Jordaan said the burning issue of education in Port Elizabeth's Northern Areas was going to be curbed by programme where former retired school principals will be brought in to share their experience with inexperienced principals.
Jordaan said this would improve administrative efficiency in a number of schools in the metro.
Jordaan said he was in talks with young principals who were offered a retirement package post 1994.
His comment came as schools in the Port Elizabeth's Northern Areas remained closed in protest against teacher shortages among other long-standing issues.
Mayor Jordaan added that the expanded Public Works programme has yielded results with 330 non-teaching jobs created in last few months.
"Education, although not a local government matter, has become a major carrier of pain in the Northern Areas and it must receive our urgent attention because for many of those parents they cannot offer their children financial security. They only can give those children the opportunity to acquire education to improve their own lives" he said.
Although Jordaan spoke of the challenges facing the metro he also noted the progress local government has made on it's mandate to turn the Metro around.
Jordaan said there had been an improvement in law enforcement, sewage systems, public health and other areas.
Jordaan added that the intervention by the National Department of Human Settlements had accelerated the building of RDP houses.
He said although the council had seen improvement - it was aware of the challenges that still face the Metro.
"We acknowledge that there have been no easy ways out of this situation but what we had to do is show courage and deal with difficult decisions and that helped us turn the tide in this metro". he said
