Councillors living in fear, says metro speaker Hermans
“SOME of us live in fear and uncertainty because we don’t know who’s going to be next,” Nelson Mandela Bay Speaker Maria Hermans said before bursting into tears at a special meeting to honour two Uitenhage councillors who died in recent weeks.
There was not a dry eye in the council chamber at the old Woolboard Exchange Building when councillors formally emptied the seats of councillors Lucky Vumazonke and Buyisile Mkavu, who died within a week of each other.
Mkavu, 41, was shot dead in his car at about 9pm on Saturday while leaving Vumazonke’s KwaNobuhle home the day before the latter’s funeral.
Vumazonke, 44, died more than a week ago following a long illness.
Mkavu’s death is believed by some to have been an assassination as he was previously a victim of assault and his house was torched by an angry mob of Uitenhage protesters who wanted him to authorise an illegal land invasion on unserviced sites.
The families of the two former councillors attended yesterday’s special council meeting, where the various political parties paid tribute to their deceased colleagues.
Mkavu’s wife, mother, brother and other close family members attended the meeting, while Vumazonke’s family was represented by his sister, brothers and aunt.
The mood was sombre as the families battled to contain their grief while accepting wreaths and framed photographs of the departed.
Councillors also struggled to keep their emotions in check while singing hymns during the two-hour meeting.
Hermans, who recalled the two former councillors’ last time in the council chamber, said the metro had lost seven councillors since 2011.
She said Vumazonke had been particularly difficult in his last council meeting by wearing small sunglasses in the council chamber.
She recalled how Mkavu was always immaculately and stylishly dressed, which added a “spark” to the chamber.
Mayor Ben Fihla said: “We mourn the death of two great leaders of the ANC, who both happen to be from Uitenhage, an area of Nelson Mandela Bay where we have put great emphasis on improved service delivery.
“These two fallen heroes played an important role to improve services in Uitenhage and, of course, the rest of Nelson Mandela Bay. We are here today to say goodbye to them at this important gathering, but I can assure you that their contribution to this house will never be forgotten.”
DA councillor Knight Mali, who serves on the human settlements portfolio committee which Mkavu chaired, said it was evident that Mkavu was determined to serve the destitute in the metro.
“I recall in our last committee meeting how he spoke passionately about the 400 families who are [at risk] of being evicted from their homes.
“He spoke to us about how we had to work tirelessly to serve our communities without fear or favour.
“Councillor Vumazonke reminded us not to forget the plight of those in Uitenhage,” Mali said.
COPE caucus leader Khwezi Ntshanyana said: “Death might have robbed us of two dynamic souls but their legacy will live long with us.”
UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani said while Vumazonke’s death was unfortunate, it was accepted because he had been ill.
“We cannot accept councillor Mkavu’s death because it was deliberate. The way he was murdered, assassinated, is unacceptable.
“We are calling on the metro residents to remain calm and the police must bring the culprits to book. We must know why he was murdered.
“Our patience is running out. The police must show the community that these are the murderers and let the law take its course,” Bobani said.
ANC chief whip Joy Seale said the ruling party’s struggle for meaningful service delivery and clean governance would not be shaken by Mkavu’s murder.
Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi, who is the Bay’s former deputy mayor, said it worried her that there had been a number of ANC people who were killed and the perpetrators and reasons for their murders were never known.
I On Tuesday, ANC regional secretary Zandisile Qupe said: “The death of comrade Mkavu must be used by all of us to stop the rot of silent infighting, factionalism, gossiping, the touting of lies and intolerant conduct within our ranks.
“These ill behaviours might lead to unnecessary tensions and sometimes increased suspicions and divisions.
“Any form of corruption and crime must be condemned by all of us and at no stage be tolerated on any level,” Qupe said. JOHANNESBURG is the unfriendliest city in the world, according to readers of an international travel magazine.
The City of Gold came out tops for unfriendliness in the newly published Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Survey, while Cape Town came eighth in the friendliest cities list.
“It is not safe to travel in Johannesburg independently,” a reader warned.
Others called it dangerous and full of crime and contrasts.
In one instance, a visitor was pressured to give a tip for personal service, which was not received.
Despite its iffy reputation, Johannesburg remained a burgeoning cultural capital with a stunning urban landscape, “excellent breweries”, and “great shopping”.
Cape Town was the only African city to make it onto the list of friendliest cities, alongside Siem Reap in Cambodia, British Columbia’s Victoria and Charleston in South Carolina.
A reader said Cape Town was the most amazing place on earth, while another suggested it was safe for walking around alone, even as a single woman.
The top spot of friendly cities was shared between New Zealand’s Auckland and Australia’s Melbourne.
Positions five, nine and 11 were shared, respectively, by Dublin, Ireland and Sydney, Australia; Savannah, Georgia and Seville, Spain; and Budapest, Hungary and Salzburg, Austria.