GP govt to keep close eye on incoming Ekurhuleni Mayor

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng provincial government says it will keep a close eye on the City of Ekurhuleni following the election of a new mayor.

The African National Congress (ANC)'s Doctor Xhakaza was elected unopposed at an extraordinary council sitting in the east of Joburg on Thursday.

He takes over the reins from recently ousted Sivuyile Ngodwana.

Political instability has rocked the embattled metro - drawing unwanted attention from the provincial government.

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Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Mzi Khumalo previously warned that he would need to intervene in the city’s affairs if the extraordinary council meeting failed to elect a new mayor.

Khumalo warned Ekurhuleni officials to get their house in order or risk triggering a process that could have ended in the council being dissolved.

While the city has averted the worst-case scenario for now - Khumalo said there’s still a long way to go.

“I think what encourages us are the words that come from the executive mayor that they must be cohesiveness and there must be unity, and consultation because without any cooperation it’s going to be difficult to proceed.”

Incoming Mayor Xhakaza says he’ll hit the ground running to address service delivery issues.