HAMBA KAHLE MASHABA
It was with great sadness that we received the news of the resignation of the City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, last month.
Mashaba resigned in October, just a day after the DA’s federal council elected former leader Helen Zille as federal council chairperson.
Mashaba has been the Executive Mayor for South Africa’s economic hub for a little over 3 years. The CoJ council is expected to elect Mashaba’s replacement today and the three biggest parties will each field their own candidates.
Whoever is the new Mayor will have huge shoes to fill. In only 3 years Mashaba managed to do what most mayors failed to do in their tenure. He is arguably the best Mayor that Jozi has ever seen.
He had a challenging job because in the 2016 Local Government Elections, his party the Democratic Alliance (DA) didn’t receive an outright majority. He was leading a multi party government. However, his governance style was consultative and he would always thank his coalition partners and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who voted with his government on a case by case basis.
Mashaba was a businessman before entering the political fray. He is the founder of Black Like Me beauty products. “I need to recognize that my success in business allowed me to live a privileged life, in safe communities with services over the last 25 years. This lifestyle was far removed from the reality of millions of our citizens, majority of whom are Black.” he said.
Notwithstanding his privileged background the Mayor was pro-poor in his policies and actions. Some of the outgoing Mayor’s achievements in the CoJ include:
?insourced 7000 security guards and cleaners increasing their take home pay by 50% and giving them employment benefits
? Over 930km of Roads have been resurfaced the equivalent of a Road from Johannesburg to East London.
? Converted 88km of Roads from Gravel Roads to tarred roads including in Kaalfontein.
? Rehabilitation of the M2 Freeway.
? upscales of 13 City Power sub stations which caused a decline in power outages
? Electrification of over 10 000 homes in informal settlements , including Lindokuhle
? Delivery of 11 000 mobile toilets in informal settlements, including in Themba Khoza
? Handover of more 9000 title deeds to Joburg residents
?139 derelict buildings in inner city expropriated and to be turned into affordable housing and student accommodation
? declared Corruption public enemy number 1 resulting in 700 arrests and dismissals of City Officials
? police visibility increased with highest intake of JMPD in history with 1000 graduates this week.
?extended operating hours in 27 clinics and rolled 10 mobile clinics
? 7 opportunity centers launched giving vital support to SMMEs.
? introduced monthly clean up campaign called A re Sebetseng across all regions in CoJ
We wish Mashaba well in his future endeavors and hope the new Mayor will continue the good job he’s been doing.
Opening of Kaalfontein Bridge in SeptemberAbout Author
