VIDEO: Day of the long knives at BCM
The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) executive underwent the first round of a major overhaul with the new leaders only learning of the changes on the day they were announced.
Both mayor in waiting Alfred Mtsi and his deputy Xola Pakati – who replace Zukiswa Ncitha and Temba Tinta respectively – said they only learnt about their appointments and new responsibilities yesterday morning.
The reshuffle comes weeks after the ruling party effected drastic leadership changes at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro where they replaced 83-year-old mayor Ben Fihla with soccer administrator Danny Jordaan amid infighting and administration instability in that council.
The changes in the Buffalo City Metro also point to urgency on the part of the ANC to deal with turmoil in the city.
Provincial ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane announced at Calata House yesterday that Ncitha and Tinta had already resigned as councillors to make way for the members of provincial legislature, who were also expected to resign immediately as MPLs.
Ncitha would now be moved to the National Council of Provinces and Tinta to the Bhisho Legislature as an ANC MPL.
Mabuyane said municipal manager Andile Fani was also in the firing line, but the ANC would leave it to Buffalo City Metro council to effect administrative changes.
Mtsi said he had received a text message from Mabuyane yesterday inviting him to attend a meeting only to learn on arrival that he was being touted as the new mayor.
“I knew they were looking for replacements for BCM leaders, but it did not strike me at the time that my name would be the one chosen as new mayor. I am still shocked as we speak as I did not expect this from the movement,” Mtsi said.
The new mayor and deputy are expected to be sworn in next week, but the ANC announced more changes should be expected.
“When the mayor leaves, the mayoral committee also collapses. Then the process will have to be undertaken to put together that support structure,” said Mabuyane.
The Dispatch has reported several times on the impasse between Ncitha and Fani, a fight which the party said adversely affected service delivery in the metro.
Mabuyane said: “We have a protracted problem there of lack of performance of the municipal leadership, especially the municipal manager and the executive mayor office. Every day ratepayers complain of lack of service delivery such as non-collection of refuse.
“We have a chaotic situation of ANC councillors who are fragmented, some side with the mayor, others support the city manager.”
Mabuyane said once the new leadership was appointed the council would be ready to deal with Fani.
“We have decided to intervene and rescue the municipality. This has nothing to do with individuals but rather the integrity of the ANC.
“If you look at the AG’s report and other government spheres’ reports, they show that the sour relations between the mayor and the city manager have severely affected the performance of the institution.”
Pakati said he was optimistic that the new executive would rise to the occasion and “tackle the many challenges engulfing the metro”.
Buffalo City stakeholders yesterday welcomed the news.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business director Les Holbrook said the chamber was excited about the change in guard, describing that as “good news”.
Buffalo City Ratepayers Association chairman André Swart said change was always good. “We welcome the move and commit that if the new incumbents take a strong stance to clean out corruption, they will have all our support.”
Opposition parties in council also welcomed the changes, with PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo saying the change was long overdue.
“We welcome the change and hope the new leadership will focus on service delivery and not on personal gains,” Mdyolo said.
DA councillor Terrence Fritz said they also welcomed the move, however, “we are extremely concerned that this amounts to little more than shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.
“BCM is a sinking ship as a result of ANC incompetence, infighting and a complete lack of accountability,” said Fritz.