The City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell has announced the names of the newly-appointed members of the mayoral committee, who are replacing the two committee members who have recently quitted their jobs as MMCs.
Over four months after taking their oath of office in January, two members of the mayoral committee in the City’s fifth administration have decided to leave their posts.
A day after reports of his resignation tendered on May 10, the then MMC of Finance Graham Gersbach (DA) penned an open letter announcing his departure.
He was criticizing the ‘difficult’ environment in the office that he said prevented him from implementing his decisions and accomplishing work the City needs and deserves, amid ongoing preparations for the City’s 2022/2023 budget to be tabled on Wednesday, May 25.
He wrote that he had been receiving perpetual opposition from the mayor, noting that he and Campbell felt a bit differently about some issues, and he explained how the clash with the mayor had been impeding his efforts to deliver his job fairly and transparently.
Gersbach is replaced by Fanyana Nkosi (DA), who served as the DA’s spokesperson on Finance, Economic Development, and ICT before the local government election last year. He also, in the new administration, served as an advisor to the former MMC of Finance, and he was according to the mayor involved in the budgetary process.
Brandon Pretorius (DA) is replacing MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Ruhan Robinson (DA), who will be taking up a job as a member of the provincial legislature in the Gauteng, representing the DA.
Pretorius served as a whip in the council and is the chairperson of the coalition management council in the City of Ekurhuleni, a structure of the multi-party coalition government.
Except for calling the move a new opportunity, Robinson did not explicitly say why he was leaving. Robinson initially served as a PR councillor, and became a Ward 22 councillor between 2016 and 2021, before he was appointed as the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services.
Speaking to the Advertiser, the Boksburg resident said it was an honour for him to be allowed to serve his Boksburg constituency (Ward 22) and the City of Ekurhuleni as a whole. “I will continue helping the people of Ekurhuleni,” he promised.
The mayor said the announcement came after significant consultations with the multi-party coalition partners and relevant stakeholders.
“The announced new appointments will maintain the administration’s stability and ensure that we continue delivering quality public services in the City.
“The new MMCs are experienced and fit for purpose in their new respective portfolios,” the mayor said in a statement provided to the media by her spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe.
Campbell wished the new members all the best in their new responsibilities.
“I am confident that they will diligently execute the multi-party coalition government’s back-to-basics vision and put the interests of the residents of Ekurhuleni first.
“I also wish to express the gratitude of the multi-party coalition government to former MMC Gersbach and outgoing MMC Robinson for the sterling work they did during the first six months of their tenure.
“We look forward to continuing working with Gersbach in the City’s legislature and Robinson’s support in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,” said Campbell.
Also Read: WATCH: New MMC unveils plan to rid lakes of hyacinth
