Road to municipal elections: In conversation with Mzwandile Masina
By Opinion
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Four years ago, Mzwandile Masina emerged as the City of Ekurhuleni's new mayor taking the reins over from his predecessor, Mondli Gungubele. With the pivotal municipal elections earmarked to take place this year, Masina chats to Noni Mokati regarding his role and what it means to head one of the most contested metro municipalities in the country.
Since you were appointed mayor in August 2016, what core values have you learnt throughout your tenure?
There have been many important values that I have learned – particularly pertaining to the necessity of placing people at the centre of development. The City of Ekurhuleni is a fast-developing metropolitan municipality precisely because we have a progressive model of development – one centred on building an economy that grows in the hands of people, rather than a trickle-down economy that denies people agency and meaningful participation. But of equal significance to me has been the value of effective and good governance. The necessity of good governance cannot be overemphasised, for it is the foundation on which a developmental state is built.