‘She’ll hit the ground running

DEPUTY Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu lost out to the council’s speaker in the race to become the mayor of Ekurhuleni after the resignation of Duma Nkosi.

Shabangu was reportedly recommended by the regional executive committee of the ANC in Ekurhuleni. She was up against member of provincial legislature Mbongeni Radebe, and Lentheng Helen Mekgwe – the speaker of the Ekurhuleni metro council.

The Gauteng provincial executive committee of the ANC agreed to appoint Mekgwe – who is known in ANC circles as Ntombi.

She will be sworn in as mayor once the council has voted her into office.

Sochayile Khanyile, the secretary of the ANC in Ekurhuleni, said Mekgwe was recommended because she has “a good understanding of local government”.

“Remember, she was the mayor of Nigel. She is the speaker and she is going to hit the ground running. She knows the issues there,” Khanyile said.

Mekgwe will take over from Nkosi, who has been mayor for the past seven years, on July 31.

Yesterday, Shabangu said she was not “aware of any recommendation”.

“I’m in the dark because I’m with the ANC Women’s League right now. No one told me about that,” she said.

Mekgwe was, between 1995 and 2000, the mayor of Nigel. In 2001, when the number of municipalities in the country were reduced from more than 800 councils to 283, Mekgwe became the speaker of Ekurhuleni.

“I have been in local government for 14 years now,” she said.

Nkosi recently raised eyebrows when he recalled suspended metro police chief Robert McBride to deal with the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the townships of Ekurhuleni.

He submitted his letter of resignation two weeks ago, amid speculation of pressure from the ANC.

On Friday, the ANC in Gauteng said it accepted Nkosi’s request to be relieved of his duties and thanked him for his contribution to the municipality.

Nkosi took over from the late Vuyo Bavuma in 2001.

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