After being postponed twice due to unknown reasons, the Newcastle Municipality’s Inaugural Council meeting took place on Monday, 22 November, at the Newcastle Show Hall.
During his opening speech, Acting Municipal Manager, Vish Govender, stressed that the incoming councillors have a monumental task ahead of them.
“Newcastle is a resilient and vibrant city. This motto and sentiment echo the commitment which every incoming ward councillor should live by to achieve whilst serving the people of this town.”
“We have had our own fair share of extreme challenges, some seemingly overpowering our efforts, but we have soldiered on and stood firm in our belief and commitment to dispense basic services to our people,” said Govender.
Govender also honoured outgoing councillors who have spent many years serving the community, those being Matthew Shunmugam who was elected ward councillor on 26 June 1996 and Mandla Flep Zikhali who was elected ward councillor on 5 July 2001.
“Both these honourable individuals have held the positions of Speaker of Council at some point whilst serving the people of Newcastle. Their families gave them up to serve the people, to live with the people and the people were for them, and them for the people.
The communities of the wards they served cherished them for their contribution to the betterment of their communities, and in return they completed their duties without being complacent,” said Govender.
As the meeting continued, singing could be heard floating in from outside the hall as many Team Sugar South Africa and Inkatha Freedom Party supporters watched the proceedings live on Facebook.
The ANC, on Monday, took a knock as IFP councillors and key municipalities turned against the party. The ANC had been guaranteed control of several hung councils through a deal with the IFP and according to the ANC and IFP agreement announced by IFP President Velekosini Hlabisa, KZN’s official opposition would vote for the ruling party in hung municipalities where the ANC has the highest number of seats. In return, the ANC would vote for the IFP in hung municipalities.
However, voting patterns in some of the province’s hung municipalities during the council meeting on Monday clearly show that the IFP councillors went against the agreement and voted against the ruling party with the support of the DA and other political parties including ActionSA.
The IFP was able to take over the municipality, much to the delight of many residents who clamoured outside the building waiting to catch a glimpse of the new mayor.
After a long session of voting, it was announced that the Newcastle Municipality’s leadership would see David Xolani Dube of the IFP as the new mayor. Shadrack Musa Thwala of TSSA was voted as deputy mayor, Councillor Thengi Zulu of the IFP was elected as Speaker of Council and ActionSA’s Faizel Cassim was elected as Municipal Chief Whip.
The Executive Committee will see three ANC members, three IFP members, and one representative from TSSA, DA and EFF each. Many residents see this as a fresh start for the town and showed their jubilation at the announcements by singing while dressed in their respective party’s regalia. Speaking to the Newcastle Express, one of the IFP supporters, Mbali Nkabinde said that she was ecstatic.
“I am very happy at the appointment of our new mayor and deputy. I know that the two parties will work together for one purpose and that is to see to the well-being of Newcastle. We have been let down by the ANC, with promises left empty and many suffering due to the high unemployment rate,” said Nkabinde. She added that Newcastle will now be a united town and flourish under the new council.
