Cllr Salome Sithole has stepped down as mayor and as a councillor.
On July 30 Cllr Sithole’s resignation was made official at the Emalahleni Council meeting. Will these winds of change be a blessing to the city of eMalahleni?
“We have received a letter of resignation from Cllr Sithole who has resigned as both the executive mayor and as a councillor, the African National Congress has also withdrawn the chief whip,” said Cllr Augustine Mkhwanazi, speaker at the Emalahleni Council meeting.
Sithole was nowhere to be seen at the council meeting, although the first item on the agenda was that of her resignation as executive mayor. Next on the agenda was the election of the new executive mayor in accordance with the municipal structures act.
Nomination forms were made available to the councillors seated throughout the chambers. Despite the number of possible nominees for mayor, only a single nomination was made – meaning there would be no vote on the new executive mayor.
Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali was elected and instated as the new executive mayor of Emalahleni.
A standing ovation broke out as Cllr Mkhwanazi left the chambers to bring in the new executive mayor.
Cllr Ntshalitshali entered the chamber adorning her mayoral robe. She was welcomed with a standing ovation which shortly turned into songs of celebration as councillors sang ‘Lelilizwe lama khasikazi’.
In her first speech as executive mayor, Cllr Ntshalitshali welcomed fellow councillors and thanked them for this opportunity.
“I acknowledge the ANC for placing me in the position to lead,” said Cllr Ntshalitshali, she also acknowledged her family for their support, the council members, municipal manager, executive directors and the community for the faith they had bestowed in her and accepted her appointment as executive mayor.
“It is more than an honour and privilege to lead the council through the municipality, however service delivery still remains a concern. We will work together as a team for the success of Emalahleni. I am calling on all stake holders to move this municipality forward,” said Cllr Ntshalitshali.
In her address she encouraged people to pay their services and raised concerns of the potholes, especially near schools, as well as the delivery of services in water, electricity, sanitation and cleanliness of the city.
A touch of humour was added to Ntshalitshali’s election when one of the councillors mentioned that he did not know whether to congratulate or offer his condolences to the executive mayor on her newly appointed status.
In the next topic of the agenda, Cllr Simon Mathebula was removed as chief whip but will remain a councillor of Emalahleni, it was announced that Cllr Johannes Matshipa would be instated as the new chief whip.
“Emalahleni is an economical hub, we must work together as a team to make change and I am here to represent the mandatory of the constituency – the Municipality is paying us to do our job, I don’t want to see people moving around not doing their job, it is your duty to do your job,” said Cllr Matshipa in his opening statement.
The council meeting continued with the discussion of prior meetings as well as the previous meeting’s minutes.
Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren released a statement thanking both outgoing leaders for the services and leadership they provided to the community under often very difficult circumstances.
