After less than a week in office, newly elected Mayor Dan Plato says there are big changes on the cards for the City of Cape Town.
Speaking on Sunday as he unveiled his new mayoral committee, Plato said the Organisational Development and Transformation Plan (ODTP) instituted by former mayor Patricia de Lille after the 2016 elections, will be reviewed by the council and various changes are being planned.
Ian Neilson is to remain in his post as deputy mayor, while JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg would also retain their portfolios.
Following the resignation of Brett Herron as Mayco Member for the Transport and Urban Development Authority, Plato has appointed Fish Hoek councillor Felicity Purchase, who formerly headed the Economic and Tourism Development portfolio.
James Vos will take over the Assets and Facilities portfolio from Stuart Diamond, while Sharon Cottle will take care of Corporate Services and Marian Nieuwoudt Finance.
For the area based directorates, or “mini-mayors”, Plato kicked out Anda Ntsodo for Area East and Eddie Andrews for Area South, replacing them with Phindile Maxiti and Zahid Badroodien respectively.
Badroodien, 27, is the Federal Chairperson of the DA Youth and a qualified medical doctor.
Following the resignations of Suzette Little and Siyabulela Mamkeli, Plato has appointed Grant Twigg and Malusi Booi.
Booi was behind a failed motion of no confidence in De Lille earlier this year.
Plato said: “The ODTP will be reviewed and is likely to result in a different structure which will be taken to the next council meeting for ratification.
“It means that the appointments will be in place for about one month only until the review is granted by council and then the new structure is in place.”
He says the changes will not have financial implications or job losses for officials.
“The ODTP will be reviewed to do away with macrostructures like TDA where all the power was invested into the office of one specific mayoral committee member. There are three such portfolios and will be reviewed.”
Plato said while the appointments on Mayco were his decision, the DA Caucus will meet today to vote on a new chief whip to replace Shaun August who also resigned earlier this month.
DA insiders say the two most prominent candidates for this post are Desiree Visagie, who is the secretary of the metro executive, and current caucus chairperson Mzuvukile Nikelo, both of whom were spotted in Plato’s office shortly before the mayor announced his new committee.
monique.duval@inl.co.za