Umzinyathi District Municipality finally elected a new Mayor following an impasse that left the Council Mayor-less since September last year.

This morning, Lindokuhle Ngubane, was unanimously voted in.   He is also the ANC Chair for the Inkosi Bhambatha Region.

He replaces Rev James Mthethwa who resigned after making controversial comments about homosexuals at a public meeting.  He has since been ‘re-deployed’ at the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town.  Previous attempts to elect a new Mayor floundered as Councillors from the IFP boycotted the meetings and at one point, a meeting descended into chaos as Councillors shouted at one another.

In this first address as Mayor, Mr Ngubane urged all political parties to stand together, to fast track service delivery which was hampered by the absence of political leadership in the district, and fulfil their commitment to their communities.

“I’m appealing to everyone in this council chamber to assist in bettering the lives of our people, more especially the people of  the Umzinyathi district. This district is ravaged by the persistent drought – we need to stand together and show our mettle as leaders and we will do this as honestly as possible and with integrity.”