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New Nelson Mandela Bay metro mayor Danny Jordaan said it cannot be business as usual at the beleaguered city and that the bar would have to be raised even higher to ensure service delivery.
The South African Football Association president was elected officially as mayor of Nelson Mandela metro in a special council meeting constituted by 62 ANC councillors at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton in Port Elizabeth today.
He made promises to cut spending, get closer to the people he was going to serve and stamp out gangsterism.
“We have to implement cut-costing measures. We have to cut on international flights. We need to reprioritise and say, what takes us away from the people and what takes us closer to them.
“For instance when you get on a plane, that takes you away from the people,” said Jordaan, who is due to fly to Zurich today to attend Fifa’s elections.
He dispelled reports that divisions were rocking the ANC caucus, saying there was only one ANC.
“There is no ANC of insiders and outsiders, we are all one, and we must work together,” he said.
His election was met with applause and jubilation as the ANC celebrated the election of their man after threats that some disgruntled ANC councillors would deprive him of the necessary votes.
The ANC needed 61 councillors to reach a quorum, and 62 attended the meeting. All opposition parties, representing 57 councillors, boycotted the meeting.
Bics Ndoni was elected Jordaan’s deputy and Litho Suka was elected chief whip.
All the positions were elected unopposed.
In his first address Jordaan said he was very happy to be “back home” in the hall of Nangoza Jebe where he once buried his comrades.
“I am standing in front of you as a son of this city ... I am humbled at this immeasurable honour bestowed upon me,” he said.
He said the council had the responsibility to listen to Madiba, whom the city is named after, to ask what he would have done.
He said the council should go to the people and that a shift from an individual’s interest towards the people of the city was needed.
The new mayor spoke against gangsterism that was destroying the city, and promised that his administration would deal with the problem.
Jordaan, the fourth mayor of the ANC in six years promised to root out corruption and improve service delivery.
“If there is uncollected refuse in your street, call us. We will come and collect it and deal with those who have failed to do their job,” he said.
Suka, on behalf of the ANC caucus, welcomed Jordaan’s appointment.
“It cannot be business as usual. Our community expects nothing short of a service of the highest professional standard. We must go to the people and account to them, said Suka.
The way it happened
Shortly after 10am councillors and guests were ordered to be silent as speaker Marias Herman took her place in front.
The proceedings started with the Nelson Mandela Metro University choir rendering a musical item, including the singing of the national anthem.
Guests included Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane and her deputy Pam Tshwete.
The speaker declared the special council meeting officially opened after only a single apology was rendered. There was tight security in and outside the council meeting venue.
Councillor Joy Seal nominated Jordaan, and was seconded by councillor Andile Mfunda. This was followed by acceptance by councillor Jordaan and with no further nominations or objections coming forward, he was elected.
In a press conference following his election, mayor Jordaan refused to answer questions relating to the Fifa scandal.
“I didn’t say as football we are not going to deal with the matter. This is not the forum. The minister of sport is dealing with the matter as we speak. There is no problem either way, said Jordaan.
About his flight to Zurich, he said he was not the first public representative to attend a meeting and catch a plane afterwards.
“If I am the only public official to attend a meeting and get into a plane, tell me, so that I can put it in the Guinness World Records,” said an irate Jordaan.
