Zozo, together with council speaker Nontyatyambo Gcingca and chief whip Sihlwele Nyengane, served their resignation letters to council during a special council meeting on Friday.
Nyaniso Gideon Nelani, who previously served as rural and economic development portfolio head, was elected as the new KSD mayor, while former municipal public accounts committee chair Thandeka Maqoko took over as council speaker.
Former special programmes unit portfolio head Mthuthuzeli Nyoka was elected as the new chief whip.
Just moments after his election, Nelani appointed his mayoral committee, which included Zozo as the new rural and economic development portfolio head, while Gcingca will take over Nyoka’s previous position.
Zozo, who read out his resignation letter to fellow councillors, thanked council, ratepayers, ordinary citizens and KSD administration for “affording me a very rare opportunity to be mayor”.
He also described his tenure as mayor, which started on August 17 2016 following the local government elections, as a “good moment”.
“The road traversed has not been without challenges, but there have been successes... the municipality suffered land claims litigations and instability.”
The outgoing mayor said the municipality should continue to implement recommendations from Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa, which ironically called for him and the council to be held accountable for the R71m paid out to municipal employees as part of outstanding task grade monies.
The MEC’s report revealed that the funds were taken from infrastructure development allocations from national treasury.
Gcingca, meanwhile, told council that her resignation had been due to health reasons as her office was very demanding.
Nyengane said he had decided to resign for personal reasons.
Nelani told journalists that cleaning Mthatha, fixing relations between KSD management and labour unions, managing and engaging with stakeholders, and fixing roads, robots and street lights, would be his immediate priorities...