Job security jitters abound in Nelson Mandela Bay with presumptive DA mayor Athol Trollip expected to make sweeping changes in the metro’s administration.
|||Port Elizabeth - Job security jitters abound in Nelson Mandela Bay with presumptive DA mayor Athol Trollip expected to make sweeping changes in the embattled metro’s administration, but Trollip has stressed he’d only get rid of those who had been appointed “irregularly”.
Danny Jordaan will be keeping the mayoral seat warm for the next two weeks while the DA attempts to put together a coalition to govern.
When that happens, the first head to roll could be that of the metro’s head of safety and security, Linda Mti, who had allegedly been appointed by Jordaan under dubious circumstances.
Trollip has been vocal against Mti’s appointment and described him as a “convicted criminal” who was hired only because of his close ties with Jordaan.
Trollip told the Weekend Argus on Saturday: “We will not tolerate officials in this municipality who are corrupt, unqualified or who were appointed irregularly”.
During a media briefing, Trollip said he would not conduct a purge, but would follow proper procedure before anyone was fired, including Mti.
But it is largely expected that Mti will be let go. The DA has painted him as a man with a tainted past, who was implicated in an ongoing fraud and corruption investigation by the Hawks.
There is some good news for most employees in the Bay. Trollip promised the job of “every staff member who works hard to change people’s lives” is safe.
“Our main objective is to enhance people’s lives, so it doesn’t matter who you are or which political party you are affiliated with, we’ll work with you,” he said to applause.
The DA won 46.71percent of the popular vote in the metro, followed by the ANC with 40.92 percent.
The DA announced it would form coalition partnerships with the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and with at least three other councillors in order for it to govern the sprawling municipality which consists of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch.
“This is a tribute to Nelson Mandela,” Trollip said. “We have to work hard and I am thankful to the voters for having given us this opportunity. I promise that in five years’ time, you will not recognise this city.”
Trollip is seemingly also aware of the mammoth task he faces cleaning up some of the rot and has revealed he had requested several detailed reports, including those on Mti and the controversial - and bungled - integrated public transport system (IPTS) which cost a staggering R2 billion.
The city purchased buses which would have aimed to emulate Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service and Johannesburg’s bus rapid transport system and were planned to be operational in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. However, it had been found the buses were too big for some roads and that the doors were on the wrong side.
There were also fears by an automotive expert Pierre Joubert that when the buses turn a corner on narrow roads, they would crash into buildings.
“We will need to take a long and calculated look at the IPTS. Too much money has been wasted and stolen already by the outgoing government,” Trollip told the Weekend Argus.
“We want to establish a fully functional, affordable and safe public transport network as soon as possible.”
siyabonga.sesant@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus