EFF Gauteng chairperson Nkululeko Dunga has been fired from his position as the MMC (member of the mayoral committee) for finance in the City of Ekurhuleni.
Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, the mayor of Ekurhuleni, announced the expulsion while emphasising the need for the municipality’s finance department to be more effective.
“This decision is aimed at ensuring that we can effectively fast-track the completion and approval of the annual budget, a critical task for the continued development and growth of our city,” Xhakaza said.
“Furthermore, there is a critical need to urgently turn around the concerning financial position of the city.
“We appreciate MMC Dunga’s contribution and wish him well in his future endeavours.”
ANC/EFF coalition
The removal of Dunga could sour relations between the party and the ANC, as the parties are running the metropolitan municipality through a coalition government.
In the meantime, Xhakaza has appointed Nomadlozi Nkosi, the chairperson for governance and economic mayoral cluster, to oversee the finance books until further notice.
Nkosi is also the chairperson of the budget steering committee.
“I will, in due course, after the necessary consultations, appoint a replacement in the role of MMC for finance,” said Xhakaza.
Siyanda Makhubo, the ActionSA Ekurhuleni caucus leader, said Dunga’s time as the MMC carries a burden of appalling memories of failed service delivery and the first disappointing audit outcome that brought down the metro’s performance.
“His term will be remembered for the controversial R2-billion security guard tender, the infamous ‘blue-light crash’, where a resident lost their life, the auditor-general’s negative audit with serious findings against his department, and recently his inability to get the budget passed in council,” said Makhubo.
Remove all EFF MMCs
“ActionSA will remain a constructive opposition in Ekurhuleni, and we urge Xhakaza to remove the remaining EFF MMCs from their important service delivery portfolios as soon as possible to get service delivery moving again in the city.”
Makhubo added that it was admirable that Xhakaza was cleaning the metro, claiming that the ANC cannot distance itself from Dunga’s time in office as all negativities took place under its watch.
“We support Xhakaza’s defiance of [Gauteng premier Panyaza] Lesufi and encourage him to get the budget approved tomorrow and take heed of our recommendations.
“It is important that party politics be put aside, as the city remains at risk of being placed under administration should the budget not pass by the end of June.”
