NOW that the local ANC leadership storm is over, the real work begins and the focus is on service delivery.
That was the sentiment of the re-elected ANC Musa Dladla Regional Chairperson, Thulani Mashaba, speaking to the Zululand Observer about ‘life after the hotly contested elective conference’ which saw him retain his position.’
ZO: Have you managed to smoke a peace pipe with your opponents who wanted to unseat you?
Mashaba: The elective conference was never about Mashaba. It was about collective leadership – my Deputy Nonhle Mkhulisi comes from Mthonjaneni, our Secretary Tholi Gwala comes from uMhlathuze, the Deputy Secretary Dudu Ngidi hails from Ntambanana and our Treasurer Jeke Zulu from uMlalazi. We are still in the process of reaching out to all our comrades, and there is acceptance that there is a new leadership – one with a mixture of tried and tested cadres from the youth league structures, Women’s League, unions and others from non-governmental organisations. The environment is conducive for us to continue strengthening the ANC ahead of the 2016 local government elections.
ZO: You spoke about shifting focus to service delivery. What do you mean by that?
Mashaba: It means we are a district at work, and therefore there is no excuse for our Councillors to become lazy. They need to accelerate the delivery of services to our people. We can’t afford to let down our people who entrusted us with the responsibility to look after their welfare. We will be hard on all our representatives in the local government sphere. We must also guard against complacency. We can’t guarantee that people who voted for us in 2011 and 2014 will do the same in the 2016 elections. We have to convince them to vote for us by delivering on our promises. That’s why we had an Imvuselelo campaign last week at eShowe, aimed at mobilising and recruiting membership.
ZO: The issue of the KZN First Lady as Mayor of uThungulu cannot be ignored. What is your problem with the First Lady?
Mashaba: I don’t have a problem with Comrade Thembeka Mchunu. She is my Mayor and we work very well together. The issue is that at a recent conference it was resolved that as the First Lady, it would be better if she focused on that role only and be relieved of her other duties. You must remember that when she became the Mayor, no one knew that she was to become the First Lady. This was not a resolution based on malice. There was a motivation from the commissions. However, we have referred this matter to the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee for guidance.
