Likely reshuffle reveals ANC rifts
THE article, "Knives out for deputy mayor" (July 21), reinforces the previous assertions made by the DA caucus leader when it was suggested that mayor Benson Fihla and deputy mayor Chippa Ngcolomba were in a very tenuous position and that another change in leadership might well be on the cards. The prospect of a second leadership reshuffle in less than two years underlines the fact that, while on the surface a thin veneer of unity has been carefully constructed and maintained, the deep rifts within the ruling party caucus remain.
As with the previous incumbents, it simply does not work to have two political centres of power within the city leadership. Previous mayor Zanoxolo Wayile, unceremoniously swept aside in an internal putsch by the present mandarins, played second fiddle to Nceba Faku, who was the chairman of the ANC regional executive committee (REC) at the time, which constituted a recipe for disaster.
A similar recipe has been followed with the ill-advised decision to field Fihla as a mayor who would be subservient to his political boss, the newly elected metro REC chairperson, Ngcolomba.
The article paints an alarming picture of a governing party still paralysed by indecision, political infighting and frequently reported political interference in the running of the administration. Neither the mayor nor his deputy have taken the opportunity presented to implement the changes needed to bring about institutional stability.
Ngcolomba continues to preside as the political champion over the unmitigated disaster that is the Integrated Public Transport System, which has seen the expenditure northwards of R1-billion without a single functioning route or bus running. To make matters worse there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel in sight for this prohibitively expensive project which still remains mired in controversy and budget over-runs.
Even following the filling of the various vacant executive director level positions, the governing party under Ngcolomba and Fihla have patently failed to instil any genuine confidence in the city and the possibility of retaining control of this metro post-2016 are looking increasingly remote for the ANC.
It is well known by now that voter support for the ANC in the metro dropped below 50% for the first time in this year's general election.
Time is rapidly running out for a local ANC that appear fresh out of ideas and any stability that has been brought to the administration has only come about as a result of high level, national interventions from Co-operative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan and on the instructions of the national Treasury.
A third successive qualified audit is looming with the possibility of even an audit disclaimer on the cards for the current financial year.
Illegal appointments of political advisers and the appointment of "mayoral co-ordinators", none of which appear on the metro organogram, have been made in the mayor's office. ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe is correct in saying that there is an urgent need for strong leadership in the metro.
The problem is that the cupboard is bare in this department, the game has moved into extra time and options are limited.
The DA was ridiculed earlier this year when we predicted the demise of the current leadership. We continue to hold this position, the writing is on the wall for the governing party in Nelson Mandela Bay and the frequent rearranging of the deck chairs on a sinking ANC city administration is not going to salvage a win in 2016.
The DA will usher in an era of responsible, people-centred government that will put an end to the paralysis that we have been forced to endure for too long and truly put the interests of all our residents first in all that we do.
Dean Biddulph, DA metro spokesman, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
