Face to face with Durban’s mayor
James Nxumalo is halfway through his five-year term as eThekwini mayor. Charmel Payet chats to him about his successes and challenges, as well as his vision for the city.
ETHEKWINI mayor James Nxumalo hopes to be remembered as a mayor who made a difference in the lives of ordinary people.
In fact he’s passionate about helping the poor and says he has sleepless nights worrying about the housing backlog in the city.
Speaking candidly during a recent interview, Nxumalo acknowledged the city was facing huge problems. However he and his team were working hard to solve them, he said.
Immaculately dressed in a black suit and a checked blue and white shirt, a relaxed Nxumalo spoke to City Watch in his office in City Hall.
The spacious office is filled with beautiful mahogany furniture but my eye was caught by a shelf that extends the length of the office, on which is a long line of miniature flags of different countries. Above it hangs photographs of Nxumalo wearing the mayoral chain, President Jacob Zuma and Premier Senzo Mchunu.
Nxumalo said whenever a foreign dignitary has made an official visit to the city, staff place a flag of that country on the shelf.
It’s a good sign, he says, as it proves Durban is poised to become a destination of choice for local and international visitors.
“We want Durban to be the most caring and liveable city by 2030. All our programmes are geared towards this vision. As a result people will be happy to work and stay in Durban because we are able to provide universal amenities for young and old. We know we have the capability to host big events. That is why Cape Town is worried – because most conferences are now coming to Durban,” he said.
“The World Aids conference is being hosted here in 2016 with 20 000 delegates expected. While we are doing well attracting big events, more can be done.”
Nxumalo has a warm personality, which is especially evident when he speaks about the plight of the poor and the homeless
“There is a big problem facing human settlement backlog. There are over 400 000 people waiting for homes. Of this, 293 000 live in informal settlements and transit camps. This makes me not sleep at night. It is important to address (this problem) as there are many people living in squalid conditions. We have to double our efforts to speed up delivery.”
Vagrants and street kids moving into the city was another concern.
“I would like to be remembered as the people’s mayor who tried his best to accelerate service delivery, especially for housing. This is one of my priorities as is having an impact on ordinary people’s lives.”
He achieves this through personal projects such as the James Nxumalo Education Trust which is a non-profit organisation helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds access education through bursaries. It also provides school uniforms.
Nxumalo also runs an annual Inchanga khumbulekhaya, a big community event with food and entertainment as well as a soccer and netball tournament for youth each January. It is attended by more than 5 000 youth.
And he has an open door policy in his own home in Inchanga, where anyone from the community is welcome to talk to him.
But Nxumalo is also passionate about his city.
“I love Durban. Our great weather and the hospitality and warmth of our people are our biggest selling points. I am a keen cyclist and often cycle at home or on the beachfront.”
A family man, he enjoys relaxing at home with his wife and six children. He is also a sports fan.
Speaking on his childhood, Nxumalo said he was born on a farm in New Hanover to parents who worked as farm labourers. He has eight brothers and six sisters.
Growing up extremely poor resulted in only Nxumalo and his younger sister going to school as the other siblings had to work to supplement their parents’ meagre income.
“I was lucky to go to school. My background plays a big part in what I do (for the poor). Having come from similar conditions, I understand the plight of our people and encourage other leaders to do the same. The community is free to visit me at home to talk about their problems.
Hope
“I have also started keeping food parcels at home as poverty and unemployment are a reality. How can I turn a grandmother who hasn’t eaten for three days away with no hope? By giving her a small food parcel I am making an impact, even though it is small, in her life.”
Nxumalo became politically active in high school, joining the UDF (United Democratic Front) and committing himself to the struggle which was a turning point in his life.
Nxumalo said his job entailed more than attending functions and cutting ribbons.
“The job of a mayor is enshrined in the constitution and the Municipal Systems Act. You are the political leader of that municipality and are responsible for the day-to-day running. You have to ensure everyone, from councillors to the city manager, are accountable.”
He knows his actions are sometimes criticised, and that this comes with the territory.
“Criticism shouldn’t make you worry, but it should make you re-evaluate, especially if it is constructive criticism. For example my stance on the Palestine/Israel conflict drew plenty criticism. I was however articulating the position of my party on that issue.”
Nxumalo has had some successes, including bringing irregular expenditure in the city down from R1.3 billion in 2011 to R63 million this year.
“When I came to office, the Manase Report and allegations of officials doing business with the city needed to be dealt with. We had to develop mechanisms to deal with these issues.
“To prevent fraud and corruption, we set up structures to blacklist companies found to be doing business with the city illegally.
“Every employee, from the highest to lowest level, has to declare their interests. All these mechanisms have helped us to clean up the city.
‘The goal I want to reach by 2016 is that the city has no irregular expenditure,” he said. “We are moving towards a clean audit, if not this year then next year, because of these efforts.
“I can’t address all the challenges in five years, but I will continue doing what I can, and I know those coming after me will continue the work.”
This is the first of a series of interviews which will feature prominent city leaders.